Max Bryant and Aussie cricketers’ chilling close call with missile strike as India-Pakistan crisis explodes

Max Bryant has become the first player to speak about the stunning moment when the players learnt of their close call with an Indian missile strike, and the week of drama and confusion which led to the suspension of the Pakistan Super League.

“Holy crap … is this for real?’’

That was the chilling reaction of a group of Australian cricketers after realising they had narrowly avoided a missile attack on their flight out of Pakistan.

The Australians who had been playing in the Pakistan Super League touched down in Dubai and learnt just after landing the airport they had left in Nur Khan had been attacked by missiles soon after they flew out.

Queensland batsman Max Bryant, who played for the Peshawar Zalmi, has become the first player to speak about the stunning moment when the players learnt of their close call and the week of drama and confusion which led to the suspension of the tournament.

“We landed (in Dubai) and Riley Meredith called up his phone and said “this cannot be true’’ and the whole plane went “Holy crap,’’ Bryant told this masthead from Dubai about the Nur Khan attack.

“Then we had some messages saying ‘this was the base you left from in Islamabad’. If we had left 20 minutes later I am not sure what might have happened.’’

Bryant, on his first international franchise assignment, revealed the behind-the-scenes challenges he and the likes of fellow Australians Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis and Ashton Turner had confronted as Pakistan and India traded military blows which led to the T20 tournaments in both countries being suspended.

Max Bryant played for Queensland in the One Day Cup competition. Picture: Getty Images

His extraordinary journey includes having a drone crash into a cricket ground at which he was scheduled to play on match day morning.

“It was just near the media centre. When we got there you could see the damage outside the ground. It was not nice to look at to be honest even though I did not want to look at it too much.’’

On another occasion players felt they could hear the rumbles in the distance which sounded suspiciously like an air battle “but it was overcast and thundering at the time so we could not be sure.’’

“We woke up to these loud bangs. I assume it was thunder but I am not sure.’’

There was also a report on social media that just after they left Islamabad a drone was spotted over their hotel.

“We did not really get much information about what was happening but they may not have been allowed to tell us much. Maybe they did not want to stress us out.

“I did not buy a SIM card and did not have Wi-Fi at training. The toughest thing for me was getting back to the hotels and having my phone ping with messages from love ones saying “have you seen what is happening in Pakistan?’ I had no idea what was happening.

“We had a talk with a guy who was head of defence with the Pakistan Government but he did not really have the answers so that was when all of the overseas players thought “let’s get out of here.

“It was so hard to tell. That was the scariest thing. You don’t know what is happening.’’

Vendors pack their belongings as they leave Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium following the postponement of the Pakistan Super League. Picture: AFP

Despite the dramas Bryant has not ruled out playing in the PSL again.

“This is my first franchise tournament overseas and the first four weeks were awesome. The cricket was great. You knew this was in the background but once things started happening emotions among the overseas players became unsettled.

“The local guys did as much as they could to keep us calm. They are a great bunch.

“I think I would return to Pakistan but there would probably have to be a bit more of an incentive for me to go over there. I do think the PCB will try and hold it in Dubai (in future).’’

Originally published as Max Bryant and Aussie cricketers’ chilling close call with missile strike as India-Pakistan crisis explodes