A drone strike near Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday afternoon forced the cancellation of two Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches and sparked serious safety concerns among overseas players, including Bangladesh’s Rishad Hossain and Nahid Rana.

Rishad, playing for Lahore Qalandars, and Rana, representing Peshawar Zalmi, are currently based in Islamabad, which is adjacent to Rawalpindi.

Thursday’s scheduled fixture between Zalmi and Karachi Kings was called off immediately after the strike, with Friday’s Qalandars match also cancelled amid rising tension.

Daily Sun has learned that several foreign players, including Rishad and Rana, met with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday to express their desire to return home.

"Both players are safe but understandably shaken," a source close to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said.

"They have communicated their wish to return to Bangladesh as soon as possible."

The PCB has not yet made an official statement on the future of the tournament or the travel arrangements for foreign players following the attack.

The incident marks a rare disruption to Pakistan’s flagship T20 tournament, and casts a shadow over the participation of overseas cricketers amid heightened regional security concerns.