Former Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim has found himself stranded in Jeddah after completing Umrah in Saudi Arabia, as escalating tensions in the Middle East have caused international flights to be suspended. The 38-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman shared his predicament on social media, seeking prayers from fans.
After performing Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan, Mushfiq departed Makkah for Bangladesh on Saturday (28 February) morning. He first flew to Dubai, intending to continue to Dhaka. However, due to ongoing conflicts in the region, all connecting flights were suspended and he, along with thousands of other passengers, was sent back to Jeddah.
On Facebook, Mushfiq wrote:
“Assalamu Alaikum everyone. A few days ago I came to Makkah to perform Umrah. Alhamdulillah, I have completed Umrah and was travelling to Bangladesh via Dubai with Emirates. This morning we departed from Jeddah for Dubai on flight EK0806. But due to the ongoing war situation between the United States, Israel, and Iran, all flights were returned to Jeddah. Now I am staying at Jeddah airport with thousands of passengers. Only Almighty Allah knows when and how we will be able to reach Dhaka along with other Bangladeshis. I am asking for your prayers.”
Mushfiq, who has retired from Test and T20 cricket and now plays only in the ODI format, is currently not participating in the ongoing Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL). He had planned to use his free time productively to perform the holy Umrah and had shared moments from the trip on social media before the travel disruption.
The travel disruption comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. After weeks of escalating threats, the United States and Israel initiated military operations in Iran, with Israel launching missile attacks on Tehran and other cities. Iran retaliated by targeting US military bases across Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. The resulting instability has led to widespread flight cancellations across the region.
Mushfiq had hoped to return via Dubai, but flights were reversed, leaving him stranded in Jeddah. With the situation uncertain, he has requested prayers and support from fans as he awaits a safe return to Bangladesh.
