Lancashire Cricket Club Apologizes for Incident Involving Fan in Pakistan Jersey

Incident at Old Trafford

Lancashire County Cricket Club has publicly apologized following an incident during the Test match between England and India at Old Trafford. A spectator was ejected from the venue for wearing a jersey associated with the Pakistan cricket team.

The individual, identified as Farooq Nazar, shared a video on social media depicting his encounter with security personnel. According to Nazar, a steward approached him and requested that he cover his shirt, which resembled the traditional green jersey of Pakistan's limited-overs team. The steward mentioned that this request came from 'control.' Nazar declined to comply, leading to his removal by police officers.

Club's Response

In their apology, the club expressed regret for any distress caused, emphasizing that it was not their intention to offend. They also stated that they would reassess their protocols for managing similar situations in the future.

The club clarified that a stand supervisor had initially asked Nazar to cover his shirt for his own safety and to prevent any potential escalation. Despite multiple polite requests from the supervisor and the response team, Nazar did not agree to the request.

Clarification on the Removal

The club made it clear that the removal was not solely due to the Pakistan jersey but was also related to what they termed 'unacceptable behavior' towards the stewarding staff. An internal review has been conducted, and an apology has been issued.

Lancashire noted that a previous incident involving Indian and Pakistani supporters waving a Pakistan flag had heightened sensitivities, influencing the security team's approach during Nazar's incident.

Broader Context of Tensions

Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated recently, particularly following a brief military encounter in May. This political strain has affected cricketing relations, with the two nations not having played a bilateral series since 2012-13 and last sharing a Test match in 2007-08. Even ICC tournaments often see matches played at neutral venues due to diplomatic issues.

Earlier this week, political tensions also affected a WCL cricket tournament in Birmingham, where the Indian legends team refused to compete against Pakistan, forfeiting both a group-stage match and a semi-final.