‘Never Returning to Pakistan’: New Zealand Cricketer’s Fearful Confession to Bangladesh’s Rishad Hossain After PSL 2025 Evacuation
In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 was abruptly suspended due to escalating geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan. Overseas players, including Bangladesh’s emerging leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, were evacuated to Dubai in a tense and emotional operation overseen by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Speaking exclusively from the UAE, Rishad shared harrowing accounts of fear, uncertainty, and raw emotion among the international stars caught in the crisis.
Rishad, who was representing the Lahore Qalandars in the tournament, painted a vivid picture of the palpable dread that gripped the foreign contingent. ‘The atmosphere was heavy with fear,’ he told reporters on Saturday. ‘Players like Sam Billings, Daryl Mitchell, Kusal Perera, and David Wiese—all seasoned professionals—were visibly shaken. We were constantly on edge, unsure of what might happen next.’ The situation took a particularly emotional toll on England’s Tom Curran, who, according to Rishad, broke down at the airport upon hearing it had been temporarily shut. ‘Tom was crying uncontrollably, like a child. It took two or three of us to console him,’ Rishad recounted with a heavy heart.
Perhaps the most striking revelation came from New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell, whose words encapsulated the depth of the trauma experienced. Upon landing safely in Dubai, Mitchell confided in Rishad, delivering a chilling statement: ‘I will never go to Pakistan again, especially under circumstances like these.’ Mitchell, known for his grit on the field, including his pivotal role in New Zealand’s 2021 T20 World Cup campaign, was reportedly rattled by the sudden escalation and the urgent need to flee.
The evacuation itself was a race against time. Rishad revealed a spine-chilling detail that underscored the narrow escape: ‘We later learned that a missile struck near the airport just 20 minutes after our departure. It’s both terrifying and heartbreaking to think how close we were to disaster.’ The players were airlifted to Dubai, a hub from where they could catch connecting flights back to their respective countries. ‘Reaching Dubai felt like overcoming a nightmare,’ Rishad admitted. ‘I’m safe now, and I’m grateful, but the memories of those tense hours will linger.’
The suspension of PSL 2025 marks a significant blow to Pakistan’s efforts to restore international cricket on its soil after years of security concerns. The league, which began in 2016, has been a flagship event for the PCB, attracting global talent and showcasing Pakistan’s passion for the game. However, incidents like these reignite debates over player safety and the feasibility of hosting high-profile tournaments amid regional instability. According to PCB sources, the board is working on contingency plans, with discussions underway to potentially relocate remaining matches to neutral venues like the UAE—a model adopted in the league’s early years.
For now, the focus remains on the well-being of the players. Rishad Hossain, despite the ordeal, expressed resilience. ‘As cricketers, we face challenges on and off the field. This was unlike anything I’ve experienced, but I’m ready to move forward,’ he said. Yet, the haunting words of Daryl Mitchell echo a broader sentiment among overseas players—a fear that could cast a long shadow over future participation in Pakistan. Will this incident reshape the landscape of international cricket tours to the region? Only time will tell, but for now, the scars of PSL 2025’s abrupt end are fresh in the minds of those who lived through it.