Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain described the frightening ordeal of leaving Pakistan amid rising tensions with India, speaking to reporters shortly after landing at Dubai Airport following the suspension of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

“After landing in Dubai, we heard that a missile struck the Rawalpindi Airport 20 minutes after we took off. The news was scary as well as sorrowful. Now everything feels calm after reaching Dubai, Alhamdulillah,” Rishad told reporters on Saturday.

The young spinner, who was playing for Lahore Qalandars in his first overseas franchise tournament, said the sudden escalation left him and others shocked and unsettled. 

“Alhamdulillah, we have reached Dubai after overcoming a crisis. I am feeling well now,” he said.

Reflecting on the flight, he said, “The flight was both enjoyable and frightening. After landing in Dubai, we heard that a missile struck the Rawalpindi Airport 20 minutes after we took off.”

His family, like many back home, were understandably worried. 

“Whenever I go out to play, my family worries for me, whether the situation is good or not. Now, when they hear the news about Pakistan – the bomb-blasts and the missile-strikes here and there – naturally they were in tension. I naturally tried to console them and tell them not to worry about me.”

Rishad was accompanied by fellow Bangladeshi cricketer Nahid Rana. “Nahid Rana was very quiet, maybe for the tension, as I understood. I kept telling him not to be tense and InshaAllah nothing would happen to us, we are safe. Alhamdulillah we reached Dubai safely.”

He described how the foreign players reacted to the worsening situation. 

“Foreign players like Sam Billings, Daryl Mitchell, Kushal Perera, David Wiese, Tom Curran… all of them were so petrified that they felt like leaving Pakistan at once is the only way to survive. Landing in Dubai, Mitchell told me that he would never go to Pakistan again, especially in this kind of situation.”

He recalled a particularly emotional moment involving Tom Curran. 

“He went to the airport, but heard that the airport was closed. Then he started crying like little children, that it took two or three people to handle him.”

A meeting was held with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman where players voiced their concerns. “The meeting was basically to let them know our concerns, what we think about the current situation. Almost all the foreign players said that the only safe place available for the later part of the tournament would be Dubai. Yes, the PCB Chairman tried to convince us to conduct the remaining matches in Karachi. At that time, we were not informed that there were two drone attacks just the day before. We came to know about it later and decided to move to Dubai. The PCB Chairman helped us a lot to reach Dubai safely by the grace of Almighty Allah. Thanks to him and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as well.”

Rishad also expressed gratitude to the Bangladesh Cricket Board. “Obviously, many many thanks to the BCB President and Shahriar Nafees bhai. They always took care of us, assisted us whenever we needed until we reached Dubai. Yes, lots of prayers for them and may Allah bless them.”

Despite the chaos, Rishad reflected positively on his PSL experience. “Overall, Alhamdulillah. Whatever I learned here, InshaAllah I will try to apply in the upcoming series and tournaments for the national team. Good or bad, Alhamdulillah.”