Bangladesh cricketer Rishad Hossain has spoken out about his recent ordeal in Pakistan, where he and fellow players found themselves caught in a tense situation following missile attacks near the airport shortly after their departure.
“Alhamdulillah, we came back safely,” Rishad said, expressing deep gratitude for their fortunate escape. “Just 20 minutes after our flight took off, a missile landed at the airport. We were all a bit shocked—perhaps it was Allah’s will that we made it out unharmed.”
Rishad was part of a group of Bangladeshi players participating in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). As hostilities erupted in the region, fear and uncertainty spread through the camp. “At first, when we heard what was happening, naturally we were all a bit afraid,” he recalled. “But everyone—our team management, BCB, even PCB and our PSL team—were very supportive and kept checking in on us.”
Back home, family anxieties ran high. “Families always worry when you’re abroad,” he said. “When they heard about war breaking out nearby, the tension was real. I tried to reassure them, kept the conversations light and positive so they wouldn’t panic.”
He also spoke about his close teammate Nahid Rana, who was visibly shaken. “Nahid was a bit overwhelmed and stayed quiet. I told him—there’s no reason to worry. We’re here together, and Allah is watching over us.”
Foreign players, too, were affected. “Many of the overseas players were deeply distressed. We all sat and talked, tried to lift each other’s spirits. But they were mentally quite down.”
Despite the traumatic experience, Rishad hasn’t lost his love for the game. “Of course I still want to play. If the tournament shifts to Dubai or continues elsewhere, I’ll try to go. But safety comes first.”
He concluded by thanking everyone for their prayers: “Everyone saw the situation. It was scary, no doubt. But we’re grateful to everyone who kept us in their thoughts. Everything went well in the end—Alhamdulillah.”