A drone crash inside Rawalpindi Stadium has prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board to rethink how—and where—the remaining PSL games will be played.
Tensions are running high. Not just on the border, but now on the cricket field too. The Pakistan Super League’s 10th season took an unexpected turn Thursday after a drone fell near the Rawalpindi Stadium, pushing the PCB to postpone at least one key match and potentially shuffle several more. And that’s just the beginning.
A Flying Drone Sparks a Grounded League
Thursday afternoon should’ve been just another PSL match day. But a drone crash at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium changed the script entirely. Moments later, heavy rainfall joined the fray, giving the board little choice.
The game between Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi? Scrapped for the day. Postponed.
What followed was an emergency huddle in Islamabad. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, foreign players, and key league officials sat down to address the elephant in the room: Is PSL 2025 still safe?
No clear answers yet. But what’s obvious is this — the schedule’s about to get a facelift.
A Cloud of Uncertainty Over Match Venues
The disruption in Rawalpindi was a jolt. But here’s where things get even murkier: Karachi, a city that could’ve picked up the slack, has had drone issues of its own.
So, what’s the plan now?
As of now, no new cities or dates have been officially confirmed by PCB. But speculation is swirling.
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Dubai has emerged as a possible relocation option. That idea came straight from some of the international players, insiders say.
There’s another wrinkle—Multan and Lahore are also part of the problem. With Lahore hosting three of the last eight games and recently facing similar airspace concerns, options are shrinking by the day.
Foreign Players Torn: Stay or Go?
Imagine being a pro cricketer and checking headlines between nets. That’s been the reality for many foreign players in the PSL this week.
Some want out. Some don’t.
Take the English contingent. There are 15 players from England currently in the league. Not all are on the same page.
One source close to the team setup said a few have been “spooked” by the Indian missile strikes earlier this week. Others are more measured, waiting on government and security advice before deciding anything drastic.
And it’s not just the Brits.
Players from other countries, including Bangladesh, are in similar wait-and-watch mode. Everyone’s talking, but no one’s packing their bags. At least not yet.
Quiet Behind the Scenes, But a Lot of Movement
Don’t mistake the lack of official updates as inaction. Behind the scenes, cricket boards are buzzing.
The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) has kept its 15 English players informed in real-time. Security teams, league organizers, and government bodies are all on high alert, constantly checking in and recalibrating plans as needed.
From Bangladesh, the cricket board issued a rare direct statement. They said they’re “in constant communication” with their two stars — Nahid Rana and Rishad Hossain — who are currently in Pakistan. Not alarmist, but definitely attentive.
It’s not just the matches. It’s people’s safety. And that’s taking priority.
Table Doesn’t Stop for Trouble
Even amid all the off-field drama, the PSL 2025 leaderboard is still chugging along.
Here’s where things stand heading into what’s now a very uncertain final stretch:
| Team | Matches Played | Points | Net Run Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quetta Gladiators | 9 | 13 | +0.684 |
| Karachi Kings | 9 | 10 | +0.389 |
| Islamabad United | 9 | 10 | +0.125 |
| Lahore Qalandars | 9 | 9 | +0.051 |
Quetta leads the pack and looks good for the playoffs—assuming those still happen on schedule.
But don’t let the numbers fool you. The table’s a snapshot of the cricket; it says nothing about the chaos swirling around it.
More Than Just a League at Stake
This isn’t just about cricket anymore. The PSL has always worn its heart on its sleeve—seen as a symbol of Pakistan’s resilience and global relevance in sports.
That’s what makes this all the more unsettling.
What started as weather delays and drone alerts is fast morphing into a logistical headache that’s testing the very structure of the league. Security. Diplomacy. Player morale. All of it is on the line.
And the PCB? They’re treading cautiously. Maybe because they have to. Or maybe because there’s just no playbook for this kind of pressure.
