Revealed: How Aussie cricket stars were just 15 minutes from being BOMBED during heart-pounding escape from the India-Pakistan conflict

Australian cricket stars playing successful the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) person begun making their mode backmost location amid uncertainty astir the ongoing struggle betwixt the nations.

But worryingly, up to 10 Australian nationals, who had been affiliated with the PSL, narrowly escaped a rocket onslaught arsenic they fled the country, according to reports.

Both the PSL and IPL person present been suspended amid escalating hostilities betwixt the 2 countries, though determination is hope, according to the Board of Control for Cricket successful India (BCCI), that the IPL could beryllium restarted soon, pursuing this weekend's ceasefire.

Question marks person revolved implicit whether the IPL, which could proceed again arsenic soon arsenic this Friday, volition proceed to beryllium played successful India oregon could beryllium played successful the United Arab Emirates. The PSL has, meanwhile, been postponed indefinitely, with officials besides having looked astatine finishing matches successful the UAE.

It is unclear, though, however galore Australians volition beryllium keen to instrumentality to play. Some, including Mitchell Starc, David Warner and Pat Cummins, who person each been playing successful the subcontinent successful caller months, person made their mode backmost to Australia, with Starc and his spouse Alyssa Healy arriving backmost successful Sydney airdrome connected Sunday.

According to Robert Craddock, speaking connected SEN Whateley, a radical of Aussies were attempting to permission Pakistan connected a formation to Dubai, erstwhile they were astir progressive successful a rocket strike.

The flight, which was said to beryllium leaving Pakistan's Nur Khan airbase, near conscionable 15 minutes earlier missiles struck the facility.

The tract is 1 of the country's astir important airports that houses transport squadrons that are utilized for logistical operations.

Players connected committee are understood to person been near distressed upon learning that the missiles had struck the basal soon aft their departure.

'When they landed, Riley Meredith saw it connected his telephone and realised the basal was bombed portion they were successful the air,' Craddock said to SEN.

'The aerial portion was bombed. It was a chilling moment.

'The players were stunned by it. Max Bryant, he’s successful Dubai, helium said you can’t flight it.'

The Sydney Morning Herald adds that Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Ashton Turner and Mitch Owen were besides connected the aircraft.

The airbase suffered important damage, with Craddock adding that it was 'not destroyed but fires everywhere. It would person been a disaster.'

Player cause Peter Lovitt, who manages Abbot and Dwarshuis, told The Sydney Morning Herald that the pair, who were shaken by the events, were gladsome to beryllium successful Dubai.

'Sean and Ben are relieved to beryllium successful Dubai now,' Lovitt told The Sydney Morning Herald.

'They are resting astatine a edifice arsenic they hole to alert backmost to Sydney.

'It has evidently been a challenging past 24 hours oregon truthful for each the players, some physically and mentally. The adjacent steps are to get them location safely arsenic soon arsenic possible.

'The organisers of the PSL person done their champion to get the players retired of Pakistan rapidly successful trying circumstances successful a concern that is overmuch bigger than the crippled of cricket itself.'

It is besides understood that Kiwi prima Kane Williamson was connected committee the flight.

India and Pakistan agreed a ceasefire connected Saturday but aggregate explosions were heard successful the Kashmir region, hours aft the woody was struck. On Sunday morning, hostilities appeared to person settled.

Meredith took to Instagram connected Sunday to uncover helium has present landed backmost location successful Tasmania. 

While nary resumption day has been made yet, the BCCI are hopeful that the IPL volition statesman again soon.

'The tourney was suspended for a week and yesterday determination was a ceasefire… the tourney volition beryllium restarted soon,' BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla said, according to Asian News International.

Reports from The Times assertion that the IPL has present already recalled its stars.  

However, determination are immoderate concerns astir resuming some leagues truthful soon aft the ceasefire.

Players present look the contented of being successful breach of their declaration to teams successful some leagues, should they take not to question backmost to play.

'It’s precise overmuch a man-by-man choice. Can it outgo them? Yes, it can,' Craddock said.

'Talk each you privation astir ceasefires (but) the BCCI and authorities are successful lockstep. The Indian authorities fundamentally runs cricket now. Whatever they privation to hap volition happen.

'They volition privation it arsenic a morale lifter. They privation it to assistance the nation. Australian players are pawns successful this governmental argument. But if you motion up for these large leagues, that’s what you get.'

It is understood that immoderate players and coaches chose to enactment down successful India, with erstwhile Australia captain, Ricky Ponting, reportedly deboarding a formation successful India this week pursuing the ceasefire announcement.

The Punjab Kings manager had besides urged the remainder of his squad not to permission the country.

Reporter, Bharat Sharma, said: All PBKS overseas players, barring Marco Jansen, ne'er near India.

'Ponting deboarded the formation location aft the ceasefire announcement and gave a pep speech to players, ensuring they each don’t instrumentality a formation backmost location from Delhi connected Saturday night.'