Rowdy cricket fans clash at Headingley

LEEDS, England: It began with shouting matches and ended with scuffles. There were ugly scenes at the gates of Headingley as Pakistan and Afghanistan fans clashed with each other.

Even media persons covering the scene outside the stadium before and during the World Cup game between Pakistan and Afghanistan were harassed by Afghanistan fans.

There was a major incident inside the ground during the match when some Afghan supporters tried to switch stands. There were fist fights and later the scuffling Afghan fans were forcefully taken out of the stadium.

A few hours later, the International Cricket Council (ICC) declared that it would take appropriate measures to punish rowdy fans.

“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. 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 ICC said.

The rivalry between Pakistan and India fans is legendary. It is by far the fiercest of all rivalries in international cricket. But what happened at Headingley on Wednesday underlined the fact that another one is growing. And not very quietly.

There was plenty of evidence that Afghan fans are emerging as major rivals for their Pakistani counterparts here at Headingley on Wednesday. Though outnumbered by the fans in green, the Afghans did not lack in intensity creating a Pakistan-India kind of atmosphere both outside and inside the stadium.

Fans had gathered in front of Headingley hours before the game. Though Leeds does not have a big Pakistani population, its neighboring Bradford is a different story. Known as little Pakistan, Bradford has a huge desi population and it was from there that most Pakistani fans had come to watch Wednesday’s game. Then, as usual, there were supporters who had come from all over the world to back their team, which has given a new lease of life to its World Cup campaign by winning back-to-back matches against South Africa and New Zealand.

While Pakistan had everything to play for at Headingley, Afghanistan only had a point to prove. Though their team is already out of contention after seven losses in a row, the Afghan fans were as loud and vocal as the Pakistanis.

“There were a lot of them today,” said Waqar Younis, the former Pakistan captain who is in England as a commentator and ICC ambassador.

“We are here to support our team. It might be losing here but it’s going to be a major team soon,” said Shehzad, a Kabul-born Afghan who lives in England.

But fans like Shehzad were fewer in numbers, as it later turned out. Some of the Afghan fans became rowdy and were involved in altercations with Pakistani fans. The atmosphere became really tense and even journalists were targeted by some fans. “If it’s so tense now, imagine what it would be like once the match is over,” remarked a journalist.

Sources said that the World Cup organsires had taken serious notice of the untoward incidents and local authorities were informed about it.