This cricket match against Afghanistan was extremely significant for Pakistan’s qualification into the semis. As the competition in the match got intense, the things got heated up in the stadium as well. Unfortunately, a conflict between Pakistani and Afghan fans turned into a violent clash.
While the match was being played, a few Afghan fans attacked Pakistani fans and even got into a fight with the security officials at the stadium
The incident took place in the Carnegie Pavilion Stand. As the things grew violent, the security officials had to intervene which led to the expulsion of a few fans from the stadium. Clashes outside the stadium were more intense and steel barricades were used as weapons to harm the other party. It is being said that the Afghanis also assaulted the Pakistani media people who were trying to film the scenes.
Afghan fans clash with security officials and Pakistani Fans.
Also harass Pakistani media personnel.@cricketworldcup @TheRealPCB @ACBofficials pic.twitter.com/ayUvFWqBy0— Anas Saeed (@anussaeed1) June 29, 2019
Images and videos of the whole Afghan mob beating one Pakistani fan were shared all over social media
Afghani supporters doing what they are best at, fighting and violence. A whole mob beating one Pakistani team supporter. They are already sure they are going to lose today! Beating and then running away, cowards
#PakistanVsNamakHarams#PAKvsAFG #ShaheenAfridi pic.twitter.com/X8vDpysE4E
— Fasih Uddin (@Fasih_Uddin) June 29, 2019
Afghan beating a #Pakistani fan outside stadium .#PAKvAFG #PakistanVsNamakHarams #Kashmir #Pakistan #NamakHaram #Balochistan pic.twitter.com/Vucmk3HmnD
— Shabnam (@Shabnam_Kashmir) June 29, 2019
Pakistan and Afghanistan have been at odds with each other over various issues other than cricket. The rivalry manifests itself in cricket all the more
Pakistani fans are irked because many players of Afghanistan learnt their cricket in Pakistan because so many of these Afghans were living as refugees in Pakistan during the Afghan invasion by the US forces, 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.
Even the former cricketers, like Shoaib Akhtar, have talked about these issues and gotten into controversy over his remarks that Afghan players may not be residents of Afghanistan.
Those criticising @shoaib100mph
for this video, should check Kabuli Cricket Board Chairman's statement first
They can't insult a nation with cheap media stunts and expect nothing in return
pic.twitter.com/geUSSIlWX2#PAKvAFG— Azhar (@MashwaniAzhar) June 29, 2019
Things between the Pakistan and Afghan fans are just getting heated and Pakistanis are calling out the Afghans as namak haram
Pakistanis are arguing that they label the Afghans as namak haram because of how they’re being supported by BCCI even though they formed their base with Pakistan’s help and are now being adversarial toward Pakistan
So we call them Namak haram for a reason.
Afghani namak haram barking on Pakistani supporter and security. #PakistanVsNamakHarams pic.twitter.com/BUzZaFF942— SyeDa Fatima HuDa (@syedaFatimahuda) June 29, 2019
Today Match is between Markhor and HaramKhor. And InShaAllah Markhor will crush this Haramkhor(Afghanistan)
#PAKvAFG pic.twitter.com/yiSGHZskZR— Talha Rajpoot (@TalhaHafeeez) June 29, 2019
If haramkhor had a face that would be #Afghanistan
— Junaid Mubarak (@shjunaid123) June 29, 2019
Namak haram for a reason ✌✌✌
— Hassan 🇵🇰 (@HassanCrick) June 22, 2019
NamakHARAM Talk!
**RE-TWEET** so all Pakistan see their True Face and send them back to Afghanistan or India.#PakistanVsNamakHarams pic.twitter.com/R2F2oLGCgL— Fiza Khan (@_pure_pakistani) June 29, 2019
Pakistani fans even said that they are happy to see Pathans crushing the Afghan team, particularly Shaheen Afridi
It feels good to see Our Pathan crushing Namak Haram Pathans.#PAKvAFG pic.twitter.com/s3g932bcw4
— Misbah Ullah 🇵🇰 (@MisbahU07659386) June 29, 2019
Interestingly, fans have noted that despite much severe traditional rivalry with India, nothing of this kind has happened of late in Pakistan-India cricket matches
We Played A lot of matches against India But Not This Happened In Any time Here The Afghani Namak Haram playing first time against Pakistan in CWC19 😠😠😠 pic.twitter.com/jvj5aBd3Ak
— Bili Kiani17 🇵🇰 (@BiliKiani) June 29, 2019
People in the past have also said that Pakistan-India cricket matches are fun because of their no-hate element
Fans of Pakistan and India display extra loyalty to their home nation but they don’t really hate the other nation. The post-match banter on social media also makes the Pak-Indian encounters on the cricket field more interesting.
No nafrat!! Only extra patriotism for India – Pakistan cricket!! That’s what makes our matches fun. And then banter on twitter too!
— Barkha Samnani (@bsamnani) June 18, 2019
Persistence of the old issues with the Afghans coupled with our recent conflicts with India have possibly aggravated Pakistani fans’ insecurities with regards to Afghanistan. This trust deficit becomes prominent in incidents like today. Whatever the case may be, a sport is just supposed to be treated like a sport and the real essence of cricket should not be mistaken as political statements.
Pakistani Fans Are Going Insane Over Shaheen Afridi’s Fantastic Performance In The Match Against New Zealand
19 Of Iqbal’s “Shaheen” And Their Insanely Dard Bhari Stories
Cover image via: business-standard.com and @Fasih_Uddin/Twitter