PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja says NO TO VIOLENCE in cricket.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja has made it clear that violence has no place in cricket after Pakistan’s thrilling victory over Afghanistan in the Asian Cup on Wednesday night.
It was marred by clashes between the two groups of supporters in Sharjah.
Videos on social media showed Afghan fans, unable to control their emotions after watching their team lose the game by one goal, venting their anger by beating Pakistani fans and vandalising stadium properties.
Ramiz told reporters at a press conference that the PCB would file a complaint with the International Cricket Council to ensure that cricket fans in Pakistan no longer face a similar situation.
“You don’t identify hooliganism with cricket, and that is unacceptable,” Ramiz told reporters for the Pakistan Junior League Project.
“This game doesn’t want that kind of environment. The optics were really bad. It wasn’t the first time something like this had happened. Emotions must be controlled, we own our fans, and we file a protest with the ICC”.
“Winning and losing is part of the game, and even the Pakistani team could be in danger in such an atmosphere.” Pakistan beat Afghanistan after Naseem Shah hit two sixes behind Fazalhaq Farooqi in the final match to lead the team to the final of Sunday’s T20 tournament.
Trouble started when Afghan rhythm bowler Fareed Ahmad got into a heated exchange with Pakistani Asif Ali after he kicked out the drummer after he was sacked.
Fareed celebrated hard right in front of Asif, who in return pushed the bowler away, and when the bowler replied again, he nearly hit him with the bat before the players, accompanied by the umpire, intervened to defuse the tension.
The rising mood moved from the pitch to the stands as videos circulated of Afghan supporters tearing down seats and throwing them at supporters wearing Pakistani shirts while brandishing slogans such as “Afghanistan Zindabad”.
Former Pakistani bowler Shoaib Akhtar captioned a video and tweeted, “That’s what Afghan fans do. They’ve done it many times in the past. It’s a game, and it needs to be played and absorbed in the right spirit. @ShafiqStanikzai, your audience and your players both need to learn a few things if you want to grow in the sport.”
