Babar Azam’s Pakistan lost to India at Ahmedabad’s 132,000-seater stadium where just 10 Pakistani expatriate fans were believed to have gained tickets for the Cricket World Cup’s marquee match-up.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has lodged a complaint with the sports’ world governing body over “inappropriate conduct” towards its players during the Cricket World Cup match against arch-rivals India.
Babar Azam’s Pakistan lost to India at Ahmedabad’s 132,000-seater stadium where just 10 Pakistani expatriate fans were believed to have gained tickets for the tournament’s marquee match-up.
Team captain Azam was booed at the toss while video on social media appeared to show several Pakistan players including Mohammad Rizwan being abused by Indian fans.
The PCB on Tuesday said it has “filed a complaint (with the International Cricket Council) regarding inappropriate conduct targeted at the Pakistan squad during the India vs Pakistan match held on 14 October 2023”.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has lodged a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the behavior of the crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad during the Pakistan-India clash in the World Cup 2023. pic.twitter.com/qgB7Zu4FaE
— Startup Pakistan (@PakStartup) October 18, 2023
Pakistan thumped by India
Pakistan went down to India by seven wickets after being bundled out for 191. They next play five-time winners Australia in Bengaluru on Friday.
Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur, in the post-match conference, said the game against India looked like “a BCCI event” rather than an international tournament.
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“It seemed like a bilateral series; it seemed like a BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) event.”
Arthur accused the public address system organisers of favouring India by refusing to play “Dil Dil Pakistan”, the nation’s unofficial anthem.
Responding to Pakistan cricket team director Mickey Arthur's complaint of not hearing "Dil Dil Pakistan" during the Pakistan-India match the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official said that the song was not played as there were "no Pakistani fans in the stadium". pic.twitter.com/jv66LMbB3x
— Economy.pk (@pk_economy) October 15, 2023
Pakistan fans and some journalists are still awaiting visas to travel to India despite the World Cup having started almost two weeks ago.
The PCB “has lodged another formal protest with the ICC over delays in visas for Pakistani journalists and the absence of a visa policy for Pakistan fans”.
India and Pakistan are bitter adversaries and only play against each other in international tournaments due to long-standing political tensions.
AFP
The PCB has raised its concerns against the delay in issuance of visas to Pakistani fans and journalists for the ODI World Cup 2023 as well as the unacceptable treatment of Pakistani players during the recent Pakistan-India match.#news #pakistan #pcb #icc #cricket pic.twitter.com/iUdvz0QB1S
— One Voice (@1Voicepk) October 18, 2023
