Cricket: When Pakistani followers invaded the pitch and disrupted a successful match

Cricket, which was as soon as restricted to British aristocrats and the elites, has advanced to grow to be one of the crucial widespread sport within the Indian subcontinent. It is a typical sight to see cricket followers in Southeast Asia to stay glued to their TV for hours in anticipation of what’s to return.
While it isn’t uncommon for ‘passionate’ and over-enthusiastic cricket lovers to get into heated arguments over a sport or interact in unruly behaviour within the stands, it’s seldom that we witness fanatic mobs go berserk, disrupt a match and tough up authorities. One such disgraceful occasion passed off on June 17, 2001, through the NatWest collection between Pakistan and England.
The match was being performed at Headingley in Leeds. England’s batting line-up was ripped aside by the legendary Pakistani bowler Waqar Younis, who managed to get 7 wickets whereas conceding simply 36 runs in 10 overs. A superlative bowling assault by the Pakistani facet ensured that England was wrapped up at a paltry rating of 156 in 45.2 overs. With 157 runs to win the sport, the Pakistani cricket group was all set to clinch the match.
Screengrab of the scorecard (Photo Credits: ESPN Cricinfo)With a stellar batting efficiency of all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, the match was in Pakistani’s court docket. The group has managed to place 153 runs on the scoreboard in simply 39.5 overs. Azhar Mahmood and Younis Khan had been on the crease and set to attain the successful runs.
Pakistani cricket followers invade the pitch
And then one thing surprising occurred. Hordes of unruly Pakistanis jumped over the fence, shoved the bottom workers on the best way and invaded the pitch, prompting the English cricketers to run to security. While they weren’t glad with disrupting the match, the mob roughed up a floor steward (whose duty is to make sure that followers abide by the principles) and inflicted grave accidents through the stampede. And the subsequent factor that the Pakistanis did was battle amongst themselves for the possession of stumps.
“A massive pitch invasion as Azhar flicks one down to long leg for 4 or 6 not sure what was called Pakistan still need runs to win this game…one of the stewards has been injured in the celebratory invasion…,” a commentator famous. The actions of the Pakistani cricket followers, paying homage to ignorance, was thus out for the world to see.

(Video Courtesy: Youtube/robelinda2)How the authorities can let this occur?… They are everywhere in the pitch. They are everywhere in the sq.. This is absurd… This is full nonsense. It can (compromise) security of gamers and spectators,” he added. Hinting at their poor comprehension abilities, the commentator remarked, “It’s 2 to win. That’s all. Surely these people (Pakistanis) can read scoreboards.”
Aftermath of the pitch invasion
Since the England captain Alec Stewart determined to not return to the pitch, conserving in thoughts the security of the gamers, the match was conceded to the Pakistani group. An article by sports activities author Ralph Dellor, detailing the occasions of the day, learn, “Such was the scale of the pitch invasion, and with a steward lying near the wicket with internal and head injuries, the game had to be regarded as finished.”
He additional added, “Rather than going out again when the pitch was eventually cleared, Stewart decided that England would accept the inevitable and so the unique entry in the record books: England conceded the match.” Alec Stewart had demanded strict measures from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to make sure that such occasions will not be repeated in future.
“The warnings must be heeded before an unfortunate incident becomes a major tragedy. That is not a question of “if” however “when”. The results that might have on cricket and the social construction of the nation don’t bear fascinated by,” Dellor concluded.