Watch: A police officer inside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium seemingly stopped a Pakistan supporter from shouting “Pakistan zindabad” during the 2023 ODI World Cup game against Australia on Friday (October 20).

Pakistan landed in India after six years for the ongoing event, with political tensions rapidly growing between the two countries in the interim. Pakistan played their first few games in Hyderabad, where they got a rousing welcome, but the reaction was less favourable in Ahmedabad, the venue for the India-Pakistan game.

Babar Azam was booed at the toss, and a section of Indian supporters were seen chanting religious slogans at Mohammad Rizwan after his dismissal. Subsequently, the PCB lodged a complaint with the ICC. Pakistan journalists and fans have also faced visa issues. Aside from this, presenter Zainab Abbas left the country after feeling ‘scared and intimidated’ following the reactions to her old social media posts.

In Bengaluru, the reception was more welcoming. Babar was cheered after he won the toss against Australia and also when he came out to bat.

In a recent video that has resurfaced on X (formerly Twitter), though, a police officer is seen asking the fan sporting a Pakistan jersey not to chant “Pakistan zindabad” [long live Pakistan], leading to an argument between the two.

The fan, who says he belongs to Pakistan, says: “People can chant ‘Bharat mata hi jai’ [long live Mother India], but I cannot cheer for Pakistan? I have come from Pakistan, what should I say but for ‘Pakistan zindabad’? Pakistan is playing, if I don’t say ‘Pakistan Zindabad’, tell me what should I say.”

The police officer then asks the fan to stop arguing, after which the infuriated fan starts recording the incident as the police officer walks away.

Wisden.com understands that the ICC is treating it as an isolated incident, with the fan subsequently enjoying the game and cheering from the stands.

Watch the Pakistan fan argue with the officer here:

It’s shocking and upsetting to see that people are being stopped from cheering “Pakistan Zindabad” at the game.

This totally goes against what the sport is about!#CWC23 #PAKvsAUS #AUSvsPAK pic.twitter.com/iVnyFlNB09

— Momin Saqib (@mominsaqib) October 20, 2023

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