‘Tom Curran broke down, Daryl Mitchell said he would never go to Pakistan’: Bangladeshi player shares PSL ordeal

Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, who was playing for Lahore Qalandars in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL), has shared an account of how foreign players panicked as they scrambled to exit Pakistan amid the escalated tensions between India and Paksitan.

Speaking to reporters after safely reaching Dubai, Rishad described the mental trauma and anxiety faced by several overseas players following the suspension of PSL 2025.

Notably, the PSL 2025 was suspended just hours after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) postponed the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) for a week in light of the situation.

“Foreign players like Sam Billings, Daryl Mitchell, Kushal Perera, David Wiese, Tom Curran… all of them were so frightened,” Rishad said. “After landing in Dubai, Mitchell told me he would never go to Pakistan again, especially in this kind of scenario.”

The Bangladesh spinner recounted a particularly emotional moment involving England cricketer Tom Curran, who, he said, broke down at the airport upon hearing it had been temporarily shut.

“He (Tom Curran) went to the airport, but heard that it was closed. Then he started crying like a little child. It took two or three people to calm him down,” said Rishad.

Another Bangladeshi player, Nahid Rana, who played for Peshawar Zalmi franchise, was also visibly affected by the tense situation.

“He was very quiet, probably due to the tension,” said Rashid. “I kept telling him that nothing would happen to us. Alhamdulillah, we reached Dubai safely.”

The emotional stress was not limited to the players. Rishad also shared how families back home were worried amid reports of bomb blasts and missile strikes.

“Whenever I travel to play, my family is always concerned. But this time, with the news of attacks and missile strikes, they were in extreme tension. I kept trying to console them,” he said.

Rishad revealed that a missile reportedly struck near the airport just 20 minutes after their departure.

“The news was both scary and heartbreaking. We are just relieved to be safe now.”

Currently, both India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire.

Sports