The Pakistan-Afghanistan match at the 2019 World Cup turned out to be more explosive than anticipated as fans clashed on an emotionally and politically charged day at Headingley on Saturday.
Police were forced to intervene after fights broke out between Afghanistan and Pakistan supporters in Leeds.
The match was sitting on a tinderbox with Asian News International agency reporting that billboards were put up around Birmingham with the message “Help end enforced disappearances in Pakistan.”
The situation got out of hand after a plane flew a banner over the ground with the message: “Justice for Balochistan.”
A few idiots trying to ruin the day at Headingley #PAKvAFG #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/YehqsQOipv
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) June 29, 2019
Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province, bordering Afghanistan and Iran and struggling with violence.
AFP reported West Yorkshire police as saying: “At 11:55 am today police received reports of some trouble outside the ground linked to people trying to get in. Officers attended to disperse the group without any issues and remained on patrol in the area.”
The International Cricket Council said the tournament should not be used as a platform for political statements.
“We are aware of some scuffles among a minority of fans and are currently working with the venue security team and the local police force, West Yorkshire Police, to ensure there are no further incidents,” the ICC said in a statement.
“We do not condone any sort of political messages at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and will work with West Yorkshire police to deal with and understand why this has happened and to ensure it does not happen again.”
