Pakistan Super League in Jeopardy After Drone Attack Near Stadium
A drone attack near the Rawalpindi stadium, where the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is being held, has raised concerns over the safety of players and officials. According to a Pakistan Cricket Board official, as reported by BBC Sport, one drone misfired and led to an explosion in the street behind the stadium. However, BBC Sport has been unable to verify these claims.
The incident has led to a review of the tournament’s schedule, with organisers considering all options for the remainder of the campaign, including halting the tournament for a number of weeks. The exact schedule for the rest of the tournament, including dates and venues in the UAE, has yet to be confirmed.
Players from England, including James Vince, Chris Jordan, Tom Curran, David Willey, Sam Billings, Luke Wood, and Tom Kohler-Cadmore, were part of an emergency meeting held by tournament organisers on Thursday. The meeting was aimed at discussing the situation and the safety of players.
A senior Pakistan Cricket Board official told BBC Sport that "if Rawalpindi is not safe, Lahore and Karachi are not safe because drones also attacked there. Any city of Pakistan is not safe because the drones have targeted smaller cities of Pakistan." This has raised concerns over the safety of players and officials, with some English players holding separate discussions over whether to return to the UK.
According to BBC Sport, talks took place with the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) on Wednesday to discuss the situation, and it is understood that feelings among those in Pakistan were mixed. Other leading overseas names in the PSL include Australian David Warner (Karachi Kings) and former West Indies captain Jason Holder (Islamabad United).
The UK foreign office currently advises against all but essential travel within five miles of the international border between Pakistan and India. This has added to the concerns over the safety of players and officials. In a related development, the Indian Premier League match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals was called off after 10.1 overs due to a floodlight failure. Sunday’s match between the Kings and Mumbai Indians has been moved from Dharamsala to Ahmedabad due to logistical challenges.
The situation in the region remains tense, with 26 civilians killed in Indian-administered Kashmir last month. India has accused Pakistan of supporting militants behind the attack, an allegation that Pakistan has rejected. The situation escalated on Tuesday evening when India launched a series of strikes in a move named "Operation Sindoor". As the situation continues to unfold, BBC Sport will continue to provide updates on the Pakistan Super League and the safety of players and officials.
In a statement, the Pakistan Cricket Board has assured that the safety of players remains their priority, and they are working to ensure that the tournament is completed safely. However, with the situation in the region remaining uncertain, it remains to be seen how the tournament will unfold. As reported by BBC Sport, the PSL organisers remain keen for the tournament to be completed, but the safety of players remains their top priority.
