Mitchell vows never to return to Pakistan; Curran was crying: PSL player recalls horrific experience
Dubai: Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain has shared harrowing details of the tense atmosphere among international cricketers during the abrupt suspension of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
Speaking after landing safely in Dubai, Hossain described the situation as chaotic and emotionally distressing for many players. “Alhamdulillah, we have reached Dubai after overcoming a crisis, and I am feeling well now,” he said.
According to Hossain, fear gripped the foreign contingent when news broke of airport closures and the uncertain political situation. He recounted that England fast bowler Tom Curran was extremely distressed. "He went to the airport, but heard that the airport was closed. Then he started crying like a little child, that it took two or three people to handle him," Cricbuzz quoted Hossain as saying.
New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell, also among the players evacuated, was reportedly so shaken by the experience that he told Hossain he would never return to Pakistan under such conditions. "Foreign players like Sam Billings, Daryl Mitchell, Kushal Perera, David Wiese, and Tom Curran were so frightened. Landing in Dubai, Mitchell told me that he would never go to Pakistan again, especially in this kind of scenario. Overall, they all were horrified," he added.
Hossain also revealed that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi initially planned to continue the tournament in Karachi. However, growing safety concerns raised by players reportedly led to a change in plans, prompting the evacuation of all international players to the UAE.
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Brazil's Ancelotti raises doubts about whether Neymar will reach the 2026 World Cup
Sao Paulo (AP): Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti raised doubts about whether Neymar will be in his squad for the 2026 World Cup. The Italian has yet to pick the former captain since he took over in May.
“If Neymar deserves to be (in the squad), if he is, well, better than others, he will play in the World Cup and that's it. (But) I don't have debts to anyone,” Ancelotti said at a press conference in Washington on Friday following the draw.
Brazil is in Group C with Morocco, Haiti and Scotland.
“If we speak about Neymar, we have to speak about other players,” Ancelotti added. “We have to think about Brazil with or without Neymar, with or without other players. Our final list we will make after the FIFA fixtures in March.”
The 33-year-old Neymar has never fully recovered from a torn ACL in October 2023 during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. But he's been key for Santos in its fight to avoid relegation in the Brazilian championship.
On Wednesday, he scored a hat trick for Santos despite a muscular injury. He is expected to play again on Sunday against Cruzeiro.
Ancelotti said Brazil does not have a “referential player” at the moment, a tag for the most valuable player that Neymar has mainly worn since the 2014 home World Cup.
“We have one of the world's best goalkeepers, some of the best defenders, top midfielders and some players up front. I don't want players who want to be the best in the world, I want players who want to win the World Cup,” Ancelotti said.
Asked about his team's group, Ancelotti said Brazil can top it.
“We can win all three matches, our idea is very clear. We need to be competitive during the entire World Cup. Our goal is to play in the final and for that to happen you need to face very strong teams anyway.”
Brazil won the last of its five World Cup trophies in 2002.
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