New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell broke down in tears at the airport after leaving Pakistan during his stint at the Pakistan Super League 2025 (PSL 2025).
The ongoing India-Pakistan military conflict has significantly impacted overseas players, raising concerns about their safety. Players witnessed several blasts in the country, prompting an immediate evacuation.
Daryl Mitchell, at the airport, declared that he would never return to Pakistan, while Tom Curran was inconsolable. Rishad Hossain, a member of the Lahore Qalandars, revealed these events to the media.
Rishad explained that the charter flight they took off on was bombed just 20 minutes after departure. He shared how terrifying the situation was: “After landing in Dubai, we learned that a missile struck the airport 20 minutes after we took off. The news was both scary and sorrowful. Now that we are in Dubai, we feel relieved,” Rishad told Cricbuzz.
Tom Curran Breaks Down
Regarding the situation of Daryl Mitchell and Tom Curran, he mentioned that he had reassured Curran that the situation was under control during the airport closure. However, Daryl Mitchell stated he would never return to Pakistan, while Tom Curran was left horrified, confiding his fears to Rishad Hossain.
Also Read: IPL 2025 Suspension: BCCI incurs heavy losses as INDO-PAK tensions halts T20 league
Daryl Mitchell Vows Never to Return Amid Pakistan PSL Crisis
“Foreign players like Sam Billings, Daryl Mitchell, Kushal Perera, David Wiese, and Tom Curran were all extremely frightened. Upon landing in Dubai, Mitchell told me he would never go to Pakistan again, especially in this kind of scenario. Overall, they were all terrified,” Rishad said.
He also shared that in a meeting, the PCB chief attempted to hold the remaining matches of the PSL in Karachi, but this plan was quickly stalled due to government intervention. “The meeting was convened to address our concerns regarding the current situation. Almost all the foreign players agreed that the only safe place for the latter part of the tournament is Dubai.”
PSL 2025 was planned to shift to the UAE to finish the remainder of the competition, but UAE rejected the proposal considering safety and various factors on the line. Thus, the remaining 8 matches of the tournament were suspended indefinitely until further notice.Â
