Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan on Thursday (October 28) has requested the fans to stay calm and just enjoy the game between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He did this after recalling the clash that took place between fans at the end of the 2019 World Cup match between them as well.
During the match on June 29, 2019, a fight took place between Pakistan and Afghanistan fans outside the Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds after an aircraft was seen flying in the area where the game was taking place with a “Justice for Balochistan” banner in the sky as well.
Team Afghanistan will face Pakistan in its 2nd match of the T20 World Cup today at 6:30PM AFT at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.#AFGvPAK #T20WorldCup2021 pic.twitter.com/SLFxXi4QCl
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) October 29, 2021
And, several videos went viral on social media showing the violent clashes during the first half of the match.
“After the 2019 World Cup match, whatever happened shouldn’t have happened. But this is the kind of request to all the fans, whatever there is that comes at the end, at the end of the day this game gives lots of unity to the nations and brings them together, not to have those kinds of accidents,” Rashid Khan said.
The game is all about enjoyment – Rashid Khan
However, the experienced spinner was sharing these on the eve of the T20 World Cup match against Pakistan. The last time they met was in an ICC event in 2019, where Pakistan won the game by three wickets.
“Definitely it’s always a good game against Pakistan, even when we played in the 2018 in Asia (Cup). And also in terms of the 2019 World Cup. But this game should remain as a game. I think it’s a request to all the fans to stay cool and calm and just enjoy the game. This game is all about enjoyment,” he further added.
“The more we just focus on the enjoyment, and as we have seen in this game, things happen, accidents happen. So I hope they remain cool and calm and just focus on enjoying the game and who plays better on the day that team wins,” Rashid Khan concluded.
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