The relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan may be intense on the cricket field, but fans of both teams are taking it to the next level. In light of the recent match, a huge clash was witnessed outside the stadium where Afghan fans got into a brawl with Pakistanis. Many of them attacked security officials and media personnel as well.
Afghan fans clash with security officials and Pakistani Fans.
Also harass Pakistani media personnel.@cricketworldcup @TheRealPCB @ACBofficials pic.twitter.com/ayUvFWqBy0— Anas Saeed (@anussaeed1) June 29, 2019
https://twitter.com/DanyalGilani/status/1144932207963885568?s=20
Few of them were ejected from stadium by security, many invaded the stadium jumping the wall, occupying seats without tickets. Ugly scenes! Anti sportsmanship by Afghan fans. Disappointing. https://t.co/XKftrpLqDh
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) June 29, 2019
While Afghans showed illicit behaviour in Leeds, a lot of Pakistanis took to social media to verbally attack the competing team. Soon enough, the term #PakistanVsNamakHarams became the top trend on Twitter.
Today we are playing against namak haram Cricket team#PakistanVsNamakHarams pic.twitter.com/IyLu0m5ynl
— Pakistan Army (@Pakistan23March) June 29, 2019
When namak haram meets us last international match. Can't wait to see this again. #PakistanVsNamakHarams pic.twitter.com/p9c9oiZh96
— Usama Shafiq (@chaii_addict) June 29, 2019
Retweet if u want govt to kick out namak harams from Pakistan#PakistanVsNamakHarams
pic.twitter.com/rYCmyJoMUi— اسد بلوچ (@Asadkhan017) June 29, 2019
https://twitter.com/TheManaldo/status/1144912980477468672?s=20
In fact, cricketer Shoaib Akhtar jumped the bandwagon with a video in which he belittled Afghans, but many Pakistanis called him out on it.
Shoaib Akhtar's genital warts must have travelled to his pea-brain. Totally uncalled for racist rant against Afghan refugees this: pic.twitter.com/W1x189PaKM
— Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) June 29, 2019
Just watched Shoaib Akhtar’s racist and imbecilic video about the Afghan team and am reminded of all those Americans who spent so many years scratching their heads cluelessly after 9/11 and asking ‘why do they hate us?’
— Nida Kirmani (@nidkirm) June 29, 2019
https://twitter.com/FunkySabbath/status/1144887726984089600?s=20
And amidst all the hate, a lot of Pakistanis remained on the sensible side and called their fellow countrymen out on their blatant racism against Afghans.
Guys ur racism is showing
— wonderbano (@kalashankauf101) June 29, 2019
Waisey it s just a game itna racism Kahan sey nikalta Hai???? Direct this energy to your colonial masters bhai
— Atiya Abbas (@AtiyaAbbas_) June 29, 2019
You're spending way too much time hating each other, policing each other and calling out each other out here. I know this won't have any effect, but just needed to remind you all that none of this is really important. Life's bigger than this and it would be wise to realise that.
— Zarrar Khuhro (@ZarrarKhuhro) June 29, 2019
Guys there's a hashtag which people are tweeting on today's match. It's #PakistanVsNamakHarams. So, if you want to know which one of your followers is a racist piece of shit look this up and unfollow them.
— Saad (@SunYaar) June 29, 2019
Truly disappointed in a lot of people today. Didn't know so many would turn out to be closeted racists.
— Haris. (@trancevoyager) June 29, 2019
Us Pakistanis complain about facing racism and prejudice behaviour abroad when we ourselves don't spare a single opportunity to be racist, prejudiced and bigoted toward the other. The irony is just remarkable.
— Haris. (@trancevoyager) June 29, 2019
We’re at the point where we really need to remind Pakistanis to keep geopolitics away from the world of sports, and not resort to imbecilic and derogatory behaviour towards other competitors. Simultaneously, Afghans need to be condemned on exhibiting violent behaviour towards Pakistanis merely over a match of cricket.
