The Pakistan Super League was halted on May 8 amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan. Many foreign players expressed concerns over their safety, with some even breaking down. Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, set to play for Lahore Qalandars in PSL 2025, shared some shocking insights after the players relocated to Dubai for the tournament’s resumption on May 10.
Foreign Players in a State of Panic
Rishad Hossain described the intense anxiety among the foreign players. “The foreign players, including Sam Billings, Daryl Mitchell, Kusal Perera, David Wiese, and Tom Curran were terrified,” Hossain revealed. Upon landing in Dubai, Daryl Mitchell stated that he would never return to Pakistan under such circumstances. The overall mood was one of fear.
Tom Curran’s reaction was particularly striking. Upon learning that the airport was closed, Curran began crying like a child. It took several people to calm him down.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to move the remaining matches to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
PCB’s Decision to Shift Matches
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi explained that the board had always believed in keeping politics and sports separate. The decision to shift the remaining eight matches to the UAE was made due to security concerns. The matches were initially scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi, Multan, and Lahore.
The players’ safety was the top priority, and the PCB took swift action to address their concerns. The remaining matches are set to resume in the UAE, with the exact dates and venues to be announced later.
- The Pakistan Super League was halted on May 8 due to rising India-Pakistan tensions.
- Foreign players, including Tom Curran, expressed extreme anxiety over their safety.
- The Pakistan Cricket Board shifted the remaining matches to the UAE.
- The decision was made with player safety as the top priority.