The PCB is considering reaching out to the ICC after being disappointed by the crowd’s actions at the stadium in Ahmedabad, named after Narendra Modi, during the 2023 World Cup match between India and Pakistan.
The stadium was jam-packed for the highly anticipated match, which India ended up comfortably winning by seven wickets. There was an overwhelming majority of Indian fans at the venue, with Pakistani fans not being allowed to attend the match. The record crowd made their presence felt early following heavy jeers when Babar Azam spoke during the toss.
Furthermore, religious chanting were heard often, and after being removed by Jasprit Bumrah in the first innings, Mohammad Rizwan was exposed to poisonous words and bullying from the crowd.
According to the Telegraph, PCB is dissatisfied with the treatment given to its players throughout the match. As of now, the situation is being investigated by higher-ups at the border, and a final judgment will be made when PCB president Zaka Ashraf arrives in Lahore on Monday.
Until now, the Men in Green had played their warm-up games as well as league-stage contests in Hyderabad, where they were cheered on by a large audience. They won four straight at the site, including a record run-chase (345) against Sri Lanka.
Pakistan Coaches Feel Let Down by Absence of ‘Away’ Fans in World Cup Clash vs India
Grant Bradburn and Mickey Arthur, members of the coaching staff, have talked about the absence of fans from across the border for the game.
Arthur, in particular, noted that the match resembled a bilateral series rather than an ICC event. The inflammatory remarks drew a lot of backlash online as well.
“It didn’t seem like an ICC event to be brutally honest. It seemed like a bilateral series; it seemed like a BCCI event. I didn’t hear ‘dil dil Pakistan’ coming through the microphones too often tonight,”
Mickey Arthur
Bradburn concurred with his colleague while also stating that the game was not a World Cup match.
“They would love to be here and I am sure Indian cricket fans would love our supporters here as well. It was certainly unusual in that way. So it did not feel like a World Cup game, honestly,”
Grant Bradburn
Pakistan will meet Australia at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday.
