Bangladesh all-rounder Rishad Hossain has offered an "unconditional apology" to Tom Curran and Daryl Mitchell over his comments amid the India-Pakistan military tensions.
Rishad: My comment has been misrepresented in the media
Rishad's statement came days after he described the challenges faced by overseas players during PSL 2025, as Pakistan and India experienced heightened cross-border military tensions that included exchanges of drones, missiles, and heavy artillery. He mentioned that New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell had vowed never to return to Pakistan, while England’s Tom Curran – according to him – was "crying like a child" out of fear.
However, days later, Rishad clarified his comments about both foreign players, stating they were taken out of context and had created a "false perception". He apologised to both Mitchell and Curran and expressed his eagerness to rejoin his PSL team when the tournament resumes.
"I'm aware that a recent comment I made has caused confusion and has unfortunately been misrepresented in the media, creating a false perception. The comment was made during a brief interview with Bangladeshi journalists while I was in transit at Dubai Airport. It lacked full context and unintentionally overstated the emotions involved," Rishad said in a statement in collaboration with Lahore Qalandars' social media accounts.
He added: "I sincerely regret any misunderstanding it may have caused. I've offered an unconditional apology to Daryl Mitchell and Tom Curran. I hold deep respect for my fellow teammates and truly value the Qalandars brotherhood—where we always stand by one another, no matter what. I look forward to rejoining my team when the Pakistan Super League resumes."
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Daryl Mitchell offers condolences to victims of India-Pakistan conflict
According to another post on LQ’s social media handles, Mitchell also shared his thoughts on the conflict, but neither confirmed nor denied the accuracy of Rishad’s comments about him. However, there hasn't been any official clarification from Curran.
"It's been tough to watch two countries that are so close to my heart in conflict over the past few days. My thoughts are with those affected on both sides," LQ quoted Mitchell.
"Both the PSL and IPL have played major roles in my career, and I've always cherished my time in both tournaments. I hope peace prevails and we can get back to playing the game we love and continue giving back to the amazing people who support us. It's nice to be home now with my family, but I'm also looking forward to returning to both countries in the future. Places I truly love spending time in."
The PSL has been left in limbo after its planned restart in the UAE was cancelled in the aftermath of the abrupt suspension due to escalating tensions. Meanwhile, the IPL has been postponed for a week, with reports suggesting a potential resumption later this month. The two sides reached a ceasefire agreement on Saturday (May 10).
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