Drone Attack Near Rawalpindi Stadium Forces PSL Match Relocation Amid India-Pakistan Tensions

Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, franchise cricket leagues of both nations are facing disruptions — with the Pakistan Super League (PSL) currently hit the hardest. A scheduled PSL match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium was called off on Wednesday night following a drone attack near the venue.

As military conflict brews between the nuclear-armed neighbors, violence has intensified in the region. Early Wednesday, India launched missile strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in retaliation for a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. Pakistan responded with shelling in Indian-administered Kashmir, and later in the day, reports emerged of multiple drone strikes by India on Pakistani territory.

The PSL match was just hours away when the drone attack occurred near the stadium. The blast caused significant damage to parts of the stadium and surrounding areas, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to relocate the game. The PCB has announced that all remaining PSL fixtures will now be held in Karachi for safety reasons.

Further escalating concerns, Pakistan’s military reported that it has intercepted and downed 25 Israeli-made Harop drones since Wednesday night. This information was confirmed in a Thursday statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan's armed forces.

The attack comes a day after a deadly exchange of strikes between India and Pakistan, raising fresh fears over the security of major events like the PSL amid the ongoing conflict.