LEEDS – Supporters of Afghanistan’s team lost temper during a crucial match against Pakistan and manhandled the fans of Green Shirts on Saturday.
As soon as the match between Pakistan and Afghanistan started at the Headingley, the supporters of Afghanistan team started misbehaving especially with the supporters of Green Shirts and with journalists as well.
The Afghan team lost early wickets in the match that could have provoked the Afghan fans, however, a few of them started verbal spat with Pakistani fans inside the stadium in what appears to be an unprecedented event in modern day cricket.
https://twitter.com/waqas464/status/1144956927958536192
Clashes outside the stadium have been a part and parcel of Cricket as tension runs high in high-octane encounters, however, the behavior displayed by the Afghan fans was amateurish to say the least.
https://twitter.com/MehaktiDunia/status/1145040320847065097?s=19&fbclid=IwAR2TLaZEDScnEzRVMOAfBtebRpbU5686xYI_2Q_nTs3PBEdmv3b9ephu2TA
A couple of videos making rounds on the internet show the fans of Afghanistan losing temper and engaging in clash with Pakistani fans; a few of the raged fans also hurled bottled on the Pakistani supporters inside the stadium.
https://twitter.com/BhittaniKhannnn/status/1144937079329218560
As per the accounts narrated by Cricinfo, the Carnegie Pavilion Stand became a battleground during the match to the extent that few of the viewers had to be evicted from the stadium.
The spirit of sportsmanship was tarnished by the fans of Afghanistan as few of them jumped the boundary wall and allegedly tried to occupy seats without a ticket.
https://twitter.com/tanveer_khatana/status/1145018686182494209
Although the fighting spirit of Afghanistan’s Cricket team is being lauded on a global scale, same is not the case with the behaviour displayed by its supporters who were caught on camera resorting to rowdiness.
The bahaviour of Afghan fans was well noted by ICC as well, a spokesperson of which also issued a statement.
“We do not condone this type of behaviour, and will take appropriate action against any anti-social behaviour that spoils the enjoyment for the majority of fans,” the spokesperson said.
Nonetheless, Pakistan brushed aside Afghanistan in the World Cup clash by three wickets, reigniting hopes about reaching the semis.
