Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to file an official complaint with ICC against the hooliganism following the Pakistan and Afghanistan match in Sharjah on Wednesday.
The two consecutive sixes by Naseem Shah in the last over brought a miraculous victory to Pakistan after being on the brink to lose the match. Upset Afghan cricketers caused hooliganism inside and outside the stadium following the victory of Pakistan.
Videos emerged where furious Afghan cricket fans smashed Pakistani supporters with pulled-off seats and plastic bottles. Some beat Pakistani supporters outside the stadium as well. As per the reports, UAE police had arrested several miscreants inside and outside the stadium.
Clash between Pakistan and Afghanistan fans after yesterday's cricket match. Afg vs Pak has replaced Ind vs Pak. pic.twitter.com/eCyItPC5px
— Facts (@BefittingFacts) September 8, 2022
Moreover, the on-ground brawl between Pakistani batter Asif Ali and Afghan bowler ignited anger among fans of both teams. Asif Ali had hit a six on the bowl of the Afghan bowler; the bowler claimed the wicket of Asif Ali on the next ball. Afghan bowler hurled abuses at Asif Ali while he was walking back to the pavilion; Pakistani cricketer lost his cool and turned back to him with his bat.
After the Afg Pak World Cup match last year I decided I would never watch another game between these two teams at the stadium. pic.twitter.com/JrJnpmUP09
— Twitt.Arhum (@arhuml92) September 7, 2022
Other players and umpires intervened to diffuse the tensions. PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja believes there is no place for hooliganism in sports. The such atmosphere should be kept away from cricket. “You don’t identify hooliganism with cricket. This is something that cricket definitely doesn’t want, and we don’t want such an atmosphere around cricket,” said Ramiz.
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He added that PCB will write an official complaint to ICC. “We will write to ICC about this and raise our voices, doing whatever is within our power. The visuals were very disturbing, and this isn’t the first time this has happened. Wins and losses occur on the ground, and it was a grueling contest,” added Ramiz.
Raja said that emotions should be kept in check. “Emotions must be kept in check; otherwise, cricket-playing nations can’t rise. We will voice our concerns about this because we own our fans, and anything could have happened. Our team could have been in danger,” he concluded.