On Tuesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) submitted a formal complaint to the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding what they described as “inappropriate conduct” aimed at the national squad during the Pakistan-India World Cup match in Ahmedabad last week. India secured a seven-wicket victory in the match, maintaining their unblemished World Cup record against Pakistan.
During the match, Pakistan’s batting lineup faltered, and the players faced intimidating conditions. The stadium announcer and spectators showed sole support for the Indian team, as reflected in the music played at the venue.
The Pakistan team faced boos from the crowd, notably when skipper Babar Azam was speaking at the toss. A video circulating widely showed Indian fans chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ aggressively in Mohammad Rizwan’s face as he left the field after his dismissal.
Visa issues effectively banned Pakistan fans from the stadium, resulting in an overwhelming presence of Indian supporters.
Mickey Arthur, the coach of the Pakistan team, openly criticized the atmosphere, stating, “It didn’t seem like an ICC event to be brutally honest. It seemed like a bilateral series; it seemed like a BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) event.”
In response to the criticism, the head of the ICC expressed confidence in India’s ability to host an “outstanding” World Cup.
The PCB’s statement announced that they have filed a complaint with the ICC regarding the mistreatment of their players during the match. The board also registered a “formal protest” with the ICC concerning visa delays for Pakistani journalists and the absence of a visa policy for Pakistani fans attending the 50-over tournament.
Problems in Visa processing
Despite several delays and PCB’s concerns, Pakistani journalists received visas to cover the World Cup last week. However, fans have been left uninformed, and there appears to be no communication between visa application centers and the Indian High Commission regarding the visa process for fans. The PCB previously raised concerns with the Foreign Secretary regarding the delay in visas for Pakistani fans wishing to travel to India for the World Cup.
