Afghanistan V Pakistan: Clashes In Stands At Headingley, Fans Evicted

At least two fans have been evicted from the match at Headingley after clashes broke out between the Pakistan and Afghanistan fans in the stands. Actual physical clashes to this degree are unheard of in the stands in modern ICC events. There had been more intense clashes between the fans outside the stadium before the match began, and violence carried on outside after the eviction.

Around an hour into the match, clashes broke out between the two sets of fans in the Carnegie Pavilion Stand. Security personnel had to intervene, and a few of the fans had to be evicted from the stadium. Clashes outside the stadium were much uglier with steel barricades being used as weapons. As the melee continued outside the stadium, journalists trying to film the scenes were also assaulted.

In a possibly related incident, before the start of the match, a few fans were seen entering the premises illegally by jumping the boundary wall. It could not be ascertained if illegal entrance – and thus oversubscription for seats in the stands – triggered the clashes. Eyewitnesses from either side blamed verbal provocation from the other set of 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,” an ICC spokesperson said. “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.”

Geopolitical tensions have been high between Kabul and Islamabad. The two countries are divided by a porous border, the Durand Line, which was drawn up in 1893 between Afghanistan and British India. Refugees and drugs and terror and American influence moved through this border freely for about 40 years before it was closed temporarily in 2017. Cross-border movements are much more difficult now.

These tensions manifest themselves in cricket all the more because Afghanistan learnt their cricket in Pakistan but are now beholden to India for the BCCI’s help in giving their national team an adopted home ground and helping them with infrastructure.

Before the match, Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib was asked if the geopolitical tensions make their way onto the cricket field too. On the contrary, he said he hoped cricket could help build relations. “Yeah, if you look, we learnt a lot of cricket, Pakistan, we also played cricket in Pakistan,” Naib said. “And we also are hoping cricket, the sport is one thing so you can keep a good relationship for anyone like in any other country. So I’m hoping that not only with Pakistan, like India, Sri Lanka, the other countries, we want good cricket.

“We want more matches to build our cricket or to build our cricket, and I’m hoping that… Pakistan is our neighbour country, so it’s really good for us to play a lot of cricket with them. So Insha’Allah – and also when you play together a lot of cricket it’s good for the country relationships. And, Insha’Allah, we’re hoping so up coming years we’ll play a lot of cricket with them.”