The Afghan team celebrated wildly on the field after their win, but the celebrations were interrupted when a person attempted to embrace an Afghan player. Security personnel immediately apprehended and removed the individual from the stadium. This is not the first security breach involving players during the Champions Trophy.
Unexpected Post-Match Incident
While the Afghan team was celebrating their victory over England, an unexpected incident occurred. A person ran onto the pitch attempting to embrace Afghan players, even grabbing one player’s collar. Security personnel swiftly intervened and removed the individual from the field. The identity of the person remains unclear.
Previous Pitch Incursions
This is the second incident during the Champions Trophy where someone breached security and accessed the pitch. Previously, during a New Zealand versus Bangladesh match, a supporter of a Pakistani militant group ran onto the field, disrupting the game and attempting to grab Rachin Ravindra. Security personnel apprehended the intruder, and subsequently, access restrictions were imposed at all Pakistani cricket venues.
Pakistan’s Security Exposed
This incident highlights significant flaws in Pakistan’s security arrangements for such a major event. If the PCB does not implement stronger security measures for upcoming matches, further incidents could occur, especially given previous threats to disrupt the tournament.