The 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL) turned into a nightmare for foreign players when a missile struck an airport 20 minutes after they were about to fly out of Pakistan. Bangladeshi cricketer Rishad landed safely in Dubai and expressed great relief to media persons, who termed the experience as "petrifying." "Alhamdulillah, we landed in Dubai despite a crisis," he added, remembering his team's dread at hearing the news of the attack after the touchdown. Against a backdrop of heightened tensions and bombings in Pakistan, the attack left players and families in shock. Rishad's parents, always concerned for his safety, were especially traumatized by the unstable environment, with news of the attack being received by them as both "frightening and tragic."

Foreign players such as Sam Billings, Daryl Mitchell, Kushal Perera, David Wiese, and Tom Curran were also deeply shaken. Mitchell, according to Rishad, promised never to visit Pakistan again under such conditions, and others were also equally outraged. Nahid Rana was visibly shocked and couldn't say a word during the crisis. "I kept saying to him, relax," said Rishad, underlining the relief of having arrived at Dubai. The episode has raised grave questions about the PSL's capacity to hold on to overseas talent, with the fear of narrowly avoiding harm hanging over it, threatening to tarnish the league's global image.

Tom Curran's Emotional Breakdown

England's Tom Curran had a particularly traumatic experience. Rishad spoke of how Curran had heard the airport was closed after the missile strike and broke down in tears. "He was crying like a kid," Rishad said, as teammates moved to comfort him. The psychological impact of this close brush with disaster has left a lasting scar, potentially deterring overseas players from future PSL involvement.

SHOCKING EXPERIENCE FOR OVERSEAS PLAYERS IN PSL. 🤯 [Cricbuzz] pic.twitter.com/GVhhXJARxp

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 10, 2025

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The incident highlights the broader challenges of hosting global sporting events in regions with geopolitical volatility. The psychological impact on players and added uncertainty about logistics create an extraordinary cognitive burden for organizers of the PSL to manage the safety and security dimensions. The ability to reassure international stars about their safety is critical. Otherwise, the league may lose its attractiveness, as players will likely opt for their own safety over participating in a potentially dangerous environment.