UAE arrest 97 Afghan nationals for damaging Sharjah stadium

September 9, 2022 at 3:10 PM

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Police authorities arrested 97 Afghan nationals for damaging stadium infrastructure and fighting around the stadium.

Also, 117 people were arrested from other parts of UAE who were involved in the violence against Pakistani cricket fans.

A total of 391 people were arrested and will likely face heavy fines and deportation from the UAE along with a lifetime ban on UAE visas, as per reports.

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.

Ugly scenes were witnessed at UAE’s Sharjah after angry and disappointed 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 match, which was played in high spirits with players from both sides sharing hugs and laughs, took a tensed turned after Pakistan batter Asif Ali was involved in an ugly altercation with Afghanistan fast bowler Fareed Ahmed in the 19th over the match.

The scenes reminded many of the infamous Dennis Lillee-Javed Miandad exchange in a Test match between Australia and Pakistan back in 1983.

Asif Ali, Fareed Ahmad fined

Asif Ali and Fareed Ahmad have been punished for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the Asia Cup clash between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday, September 7.

The pair have been fined 25% of their match fees for an altercation which occurred after the fifth delivery of the 19th over.

What really happened in Sharjah Cricket Stadium?

Tensions had been boiling over between the neighbours as Pakistan’s Asif Ali lost his cool and angrily waved his bat at Afghanistan bowler Fareed Ahmad in the 19th over. Fareed had struck twice in the over including the key wicket of big-hitting Asif.

The batsman, who hit two sixes in a brisk 16 off eight balls, was caught at short fine-leg in an attempt to hook a bouncer and became embroiled in a row with Fareed as he made his way off the field.

Afghan fans, obviously not all, picked a different pathway in a post-match upset environment and allegedly attacked the Pakistani fans with chairs and other materials.

Afghan nationals hurled bottles at Pakistani fans and harassed the cricket lovers only because their team lost the nail-biting game after Naseem Shah two powerful sixes.

Pakistan vs Afghanistan match summary 

The Afghanistan Cricket Team lost its match against Pakistan by one wicket on Wednesday. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl first. Afghan player Ibrahim Zadran made 35 of 37 balls.  Team Afghanistan put up a 130 target for Pakistan.

Pakistan was struggling to reach the target, however two back-to-back sixes by Nasim Shah put Pakistan over Afghanistan.

In bowling for Afghanistan, Farid Malik and Fazalhaq Faroqi each took three wickets for 31 runs. Rashid Khan took two wickets for 25.

The match was held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah, in the UAE, on Wednesday. Earlier, Afghanistan had lost to Sri Lanka in their first Super 4 match. (Bhaagi TV)