For the recent contentious event in which a supporter of the Pakistani side was expelled from the stands during the fourth Test match between England and India at the Old Trafford in Manchester, Lancashire Cricket has publicly apologised. The entire episode was captured on camera by the fan, Farooq Nazar, who uploaded it online. It quickly gained popularity on social media.
According to Farooq, the whole problem started when a Lancashire official asked him to cover the Pakistan team’s jersey, which he had worn to the match. After the officials and police security staff completed the necessary procedures to guarantee a smooth Test match, he was expelled from the arena.
Because of the fan’s inappropriate attitude towards the stewarding staff, stewards and police officers requested him to leave the stadium. An official Lancashire statement said, “Any offence or distress caused that was not intended and will review its procedures for handling similar situations in the future.”
Removal of Farooq as a result of the previous episode
The cricket association, which oversaw the fourth Test at the famous stadium, said that the way Farooq’s case was handled was influenced by a previous incident involving Indian and Pakistani fans.
First and foremost, we want to clarify that there was no plan to remove the person for wearing a Pakistan cricket shirt. The strategy was prompted by an incident that occurred on Saturday in which a group of supporters waved the Pakistani flag, causing tensions with Indian fans in the area. By politely requesting the people to put the flag away, which they promptly did, our stewards were able to defuse the tension in that instance, Lancashire said.
Given this, our team decided to prioritise safety and take preventative measures on Sunday. In order to protect himself and prevent any possible escalation, a stand supervisor kindly requested that the person conceal his shirt. It went on to explain that the person continuously refused to comply with the supervisor’s and the response team’s polite demands.
An increase in Indo-Pak hostilities
Since the May terror strikes in Pahalgam, tensions between India and Pakistan have persisted. The two countries’ diplomatic ties have deteriorated. India’s Champions’ decision to skip a group-stage and semi-final match against Pakistan’s Champions in the 2025 World Championship of Legends—the Men in Green have already gone to the finals—was the most recent example of this affecting cricket.
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