New Delhi: England cricketers featuring in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) are pondering returning home after the Indian Military force carried out drone attacks to destroy terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan in retaliation for the horrific April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.
As per a report in ‘The Telegraph’, English players are “split on whether to remain in Pakistan and play cricket” after the Indian Armed Forces attacked nine locations in Pakistan in the early hours of Wednesday.
Pakistan, in response, targetted several cities in Northern and Western India using drones and missiles, but their attempts were foiled by Indian air defence.
India retaliated with multiple drone attacks on Thursday and severely damaged cities like Lahore, Attock, Gujranwala, Chakwal, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, Mianwali, Chor and Karachi. The attack also damaged Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – the venue for the current leg of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) – ahead of today’s fixture between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings.
Following the attacks, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shifted the remaining matches to Karachi.
“The Telegraph” report further said: “The England and Wales Cricket Board and Professional Cricketers Association held an emergency call on Wednesday morning to discuss the situation. At this stage, players are not being advised to come home.
“While most players are currently intending to remain in Pakistan, Telegraph Sport understands several are exploring their options and could return home.”
As many as seven English players – James Vince, Tom Curran, Sam Billings, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Luke Wood and Tom Kohler-Cadmore – are participating in this year’s PSL, which is due to conclude on May 18 in Lahore.
Former England internationals, Ravi Bopara and Alexandra Hartley, are also in Pakistan in coaching duties in the PSL.
PCB, in panic mode following the Indian military strikes, had called an emergency meeting to discuss whether the tournament should be halted.
The marquee T20 league, which features six franchises, is nearing conclusion.
English cricketers fearing an escalation
The English cricketers are fearing an escalation in the tensions between India and Pakistan, but they have, for now, decided to wait and watch.
The English Daily said several England players it spoke to “are satisfied with the security arrangements and advice and see no need to leave the competition,” though there are “mixed thoughts and feelings across the (English) Whatsapp group,” according to an insider, it claimed.
“It’s fine for now – we are safe,” the newspaper quoted an England player as saying.
“The official advice to players from the PSL is that it is safe to continue playing. The bulk of overseas players are expected to stay in the country,” the report added.
Following India’s missile strikes on Wednesday, the Pakistan Military targetted Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj. However, India’s prudent defence system prevented all the attacks.
In response, the country’s defence forces launched multiple drone attacks on Thursday and damaged cities like Lahore, Attock, Gujranwala, Chakwal, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, Mianwali, Chor and Karachi.
A Pakistani air defence system in Lahore was also neutralised in the attacks, according to official sources.
England cricketers, involved in Pakistan Super League (PSL), are exploring options to return home, fearing an escalation in the tensions between India and Pakistan. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
