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Rohit Sharma on being asked if England were rightly awarded the World Cup title in 2019
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Published - May 10, 2025, 19:18 IST | Updated - May 10, 2025, 19:18 IST
Updated - May 10, 2025, 19:18 IST
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 has been shaken into chaos following the growing tensions between India and Pakistan, compelling the delay in matches and causing players to live in fear. A PSL celebrity exposed the level of fear, citing New Zealand cricketer Daryl Mitchell, who was said to have said that he would "never go to Pakistan again" after the traumatizing experience. The situation worsened when there was a drone attack close to Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, causing a game between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings to be canceled. The attack caused overseas players to run away to Dubai for safety as the security situation went from bad to worse.
There was an atmosphere of fear among theplayers,s with some international stars such as Sam Billings, Kushal Perera, David Wiese, and Tom Curran showing their discomfort. One of the players, Rishad, in Dubai airport, described how terrified the team felt in the uncertainty, underlining the psychological cost to the cricketers. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was initially against calling off the tournament, butthe deterioratingg geopolitical situation, with the added provocation of India's military response after a terror attack in Pahalgam, left them with no option. The PCB has since shifted the remaining PSL fixtures to theUAE in an attempt to save the season.
The broader cricketing landscape has also been affected, with the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 suspending its matches for a week amid security concerns in India. This broader disruption shines a spotlight on the dilemmas of organizing major sporting events in an area with political tensions. The high levels of fear articulated by Mitchell and others raise major issues concerning the viability of international cricket in Pakistan - a country that has worked so very hard to re-establish itself as a viable place to host major global tournaments since before the attacks in 2009.
The PSLL 2025 delay is a great setback to Pakistan's cricketing aspirations and brings under question its future suitability to host international competitions. The drone attack, termed "extremely irresponsible" by PCB chair Mohsin Naqvi, hasfurtheredd the insecurity among officials and players. Moving to Dubai might guarantee the end of the tournament but reflects the continuing challenges in restoring global confidenceinr Pakistan.
"All Of Them Were So Frightened, Daryl Mitchell Said He Would Never Go To Pakistan Again": PSL Star#PSL2025 https://t.co/dZUFJlSOqB
— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) May 10, 2025
Also Read: PSL 2025 Setback: ECB turns down PCB request after Indian cricket’s silent push
At the same time, the suspension of the IPL is an indication of how geopolitical tensions within the subcontinent have the potential to upset even the largest of leagues. The PCB and BCCI alike now have the unenviable task of ensuring that players are safe while also appeasing fans and sponsors. The risk that players like Mitchell have mentioned is a wake-up call to the precarious interplay between politics and sport, and it is anything but certain how cricket in the region will unfold.
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