SHARJAH: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Police authorities arrested 97 Afghan nationals for damaging Sharjah stadium infrastructure and fighting around the stadium premises.
Also, 117 people were arrested from other parts of UAE who were involved in the violence against Pakistani cricket fans.
Reportedly, a total of 391 people were arrested and police have fined AED3,000 (approximately Rs. 190,000) for vandalizing stadium property and warned that if such an incident occurs again, those involved will be deported.
Afghanistan cricket fans vandalized the stadium, hurled chairs at the Pakistan fans and were involved in scattered fist-fights outside the stadium premises following their last-over defeat to Pakistan in an Asia Cup Super 4 match on Wednesday that knocked them out of the tournament.
The situation worsened when Afghan bowler, Fareed Ahmad, got the wicket of Pakistan’s Asif Ali and both players exchanged harsh words, inciting the Afghanis to attack Pakistani fans with chairs.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Ramiz Raja, also expressed concerns over the incident and has decided to lodge a protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC) in the upcoming meeting.
“This game doesn’t want such an environment. The visuals were really bad. This wasn’t the first time such a thing happened. Emotions should be kept in check, we own our fans and we lodge a protest with the ICC,” he said.
