A group of Australian and international cricketers narrowly escaped a missile strike after being evacuated from Pakistan just hours before India launched retaliatory strikes on key Pakistani military installations, including the Nur Khan airbase near Islamabad. The dramatic turn of events unfolded against the backdrop of escalating hostilities between India and Pakistan following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, that claimed 26 civilian lives.
According to Australian media, players including Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Ashton Turner, and Mitch Owen were among those who boarded a charter flight from Rawalpindi’s Nur Khan base to Dubai after the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was abruptly postponed due to increasing security concerns. The evacuation flight departed just three hours before India’s retaliatory missile strikes hit multiple military targets, including Nur Khan airbase—a critical hub near the Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters.
Local media and eyewitnesses reported large explosions, thick plumes of smoke, and panic in areas surrounding Nur Khan following the strikes. The timing of the Indian attack, coinciding so closely with the departure of foreign athletes and officials, has intensified allegations that Pakistan may be using civilian aviation and international presence as a shield to deter strikes on sensitive installations.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), in a formal statement, cited "worsening conditions at the Line of Control (LoC)" as the reason for suspending the league and facilitating the swift evacuation of foreign players and personnel. This decision came as India successfully intercepted drone and missile attacks from Pakistan on May 8 and 9, prompting a calibrated yet forceful military response from New Delhi.
India’s retaliatory actions, carried out on May 10, targeted at least nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), including terror camps, logistics hubs, and airbases like Nur Khan. These strikes were in response to the brutal Pahalgam massacre, which Indian intelligence has linked to groups supported by Pakistan's military establishment.
This sequence of events underscores the volatile and dangerous security situation in the region, where even sporting events have become entangled in the broader conflict dynamics. The close call experienced by foreign cricketers highlights the risks posed to international civilians in conflict zones and the growing concern over Pakistan’s alleged use of dual-use infrastructure to shield military assets from legitimate counterterrorism actions.
