The experience during the abrupt suspension of the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL) amid escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan left a profound psychological impact on foreign players, particularly New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell and England’s Tom Curran. According to multiple firsthand accounts, Mitchell was so traumatized by the chaos and fear that he declared he would never return to Pakistan to play cricket under such circumstances.
Bangladesh spinner Rishad Hossain, who was among the overseas players evacuated from Pakistan, recounted that Mitchell told him directly after landing in Dubai, “he would never go to Pakistan again, especially in this kind of scenario.” The sentiment was echoed by other foreign players, who were described as “horrified” and “frightened” by the experience.
The ordeal included frantic evacuations, with players learning that a missile had struck the airport just 20 minutes after their departure, intensifying their distress. Tom Curran, in particular, was visibly shaken; he reportedly broke down in tears at the airport upon discovering it had been shut down due to the crisis, requiring the support of teammates to calm him. Other players, such as Sam Billings, Kusal Perera, and David Wiese, were also deeply unsettled by the events.
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The emotional toll extended beyond the players themselves, affecting their families, who anxiously followed news of missile strikes and bombings from afar. The collective trauma and fear experienced during this evacuation have left a lasting mark, with Mitchell’s vow never to return to Pakistan symbolizing the depth of the disturbance felt by the team as a whole.
