LAHORE: A rare and alarming security breach occurred at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium when a young cricket enthusiast managed to enter Pakistan’s dressing room during the first Test match against South Africa.
The incident, which startled players and raised serious concerns about stadium security, involved a fan identified as Hamza, a resident of Lahore’s Gulberg area.
According to police reports, Hamza scaled the stadium’s boundary wall and slipped into the restricted dressing room area in what he later claimed was an attempt to meet Pakistan captain Babar Azam. The fan was quickly intercepted by stadium security personnel and escorted out before being handed over to the police.
Gulberg Police confirmed that the intruder was taken into custody and booked under charges related to trespassing into a prohibited area and obstructing official duties.
While the fan reportedly told investigators that his only motive was to meet his cricket idol and take a selfie, officials said the breach could not be taken lightly given the security sensitivities surrounding international sporting venues.
Observers noted that although the players’ dressing rooms are visible from spectator stands, they are located within a heavily restricted section guarded by security personnel, making the incident a significant lapse.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has yet to release an official statement regarding the matter, but sources within the board indicated that an internal security review is expected to follow.
Law enforcement officials and PCB security officers are likely to reassess existing safety protocols to prevent similar incidents in future matches.
Pakistan and South Africa are set to face each other next in Rawalpindi, where authorities have already announced tighter security measures to ensure the safety of players and officials after the Lahore breach drew widespread concern from fans and security experts alike.
