Rishad Hossain Apologizes for Comments on Foreign Players' Mental State During PSL Crisis

Bangladesh’s young leg-spinner Rishad Hossain has issued a public apology after comments he made about foreign players' mental states during a tense period in Pakistan went viral on social media and sparked controversy.

The incident occurred during the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which was briefly suspended due to heightened tensions along the India-Pakistan border. Rishad, along with fellow Bangladeshi cricketer Nahid Rana, was in Pakistan at the time. On their way back home via Dubai on a special flight, Rishad gave an interview describing the emotional reactions of several overseas players.

"In truth, the foreign players—Sam Billings, Daryl Mitchell, Kusal Perera, David Wiese, and our teammate Tom Curran from Lahore Qalandars—were so terrified that it felt like they just wanted to escape immediately," Rishad said. "After landing in Dubai, Daryl Mitchell said, ‘I’m never coming back to Pakistan under such circumstances.’ They were extremely scared."

He also described Tom Curran’s distress after learning that his flight was canceled:

"He had gone to the airport. When he found out it was closed, he returned and started crying like a child. He was inconsolable—two or three people had to calm him down."

These statements quickly spread on social media and were criticized by many, who deemed it inappropriate to reveal such personal experiences of fellow professionals. Responding to the backlash, Rishad took to Facebook on Monday to issue an apology.

"A recent comment of mine has caused confusion. Unfortunately, it was misrepresented in the media, leading to misunderstandings," he wrote.
"I sincerely apologize for the misunderstanding. I have unconditionally expressed my regret to both Daryl Mitchell and Tom Curran. I respect my teammates deeply."

Despite the controversy, Rishad expressed his interest in returning to play in future editions of the PSL, stating he remains enthusiastic about continuing his professional journey in Pakistan.