A representative from the Pakistan Cricket Board informed BBC Sport that a misfired drone resulted in an explosion on a street adjacent to the stadium in Rawalpindi. However, BBC has not verified these statements.
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been considering all possible options for the remainder of the tournament, including the potential suspension of the event for several weeks.
The specific dates and locations for the remaining matches to be held in the UAE are yet to be decided.
Players participating in the PSL, including those from England, attended an emergency meeting convened by the tournament organizers on Thursday.
Among the English players involved in the PSL are James Vince, Chris Jordan, Tom Curran, David Willey, Sam Billings, Luke Wood, and Tom Kohler-Cadmore, along with several English coaches associated with different franchises.
The PSL organizers are eager to complete the tournament, which still has eight matches pending, but they prioritize player safety above all.
A senior PCB official remarked to BBC Sport: “If Rawalpindi is deemed unsafe, then Lahore and Karachi cannot be considered safe either, as drones have also targeted those cities. No part of Pakistan is secure, given that smaller cities have been affected as well.”
The seven English players engaged in private discussions regarding a possible return to the UK, finding differing opinions on whether to stay.
Discussions were held with the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) on Wednesday to address the unfolding situation, with mixed feelings reported among those in Pakistan.
Prominent overseas players in the PSL also include Australian David Warner with the Karachi Kings and former West Indies captain Jason Holder with Islamabad United.
The UK foreign office currently advises against all non-essential travel within five miles of the India-Pakistan international border.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals commenced as scheduled in Dharamsala on Thursday but was halted after 10.1 overs due to power outages affecting the floodlights.
The upcoming match between the Kings and Mumbai Indians has been relocated from Dharamsala to Ahmedabad.
Dharamsala is situated in Himachal Pradesh, which shares a border with Kashmir. Flight cancellations to its airport were reported on Wednesday, complicating travel plans for the Mumbai Indians.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) stated, “The shift in venue is necessary due to logistical issues.”
Recently, 26 civilians lost their lives in Indian-administered Kashmir, leading India to accuse Pakistan of harboring the militants responsible for the incident, a claim that Pakistan has denied.
The tensions escalated on Tuesday evening when India initiated a series of military strikes under the operation titled “Operation Sindoor.”