Palestinian flags were eventually flown in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as the symbol of protest against Israel’s atrocities in Gaza was carried freely at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium on Monday night, after being stolen from many fans at the entry gates and in the stands.
Following the match, when the spectators stood to applaud, the players of Islamabad United, who had defeated Multan Sultans by two wickets to win their third PSL title, carried the flags in their victory lap.
The act was made in response to multiple instances where fans were barred from entering stadiums with banners and Palestinian flags bearing messages of support for Gazans.
Early in the ninth season of the PSL, security officers in Lahore bullied a woman into letting go of such banners. In the meantime, two films showing police officers in Karachi robbing Palestinian flag-waving supporters in the stands went viral.
After the issue first surfaced on social media, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had kept mute and its newly-elected chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, had shifted the blame to the province governments.
At a press conference during the final, Naqvi responded, “Anything related to law and order is a subject of the provincial government, who are entitled to whatever action they may take.” “I am not even able to give the interior minister instructions on how to proceed.
“I can’t give them a policy, but we can talk about law and order. The federal interior minister and head of the PCB continued, “I can’t interfere with the province’s policy.
Shadab Khan, the captain of Islamabad United, disagreed with Naqvi’s perspective on the matter and openly stated the team’s feelings over the gesture of holding Palestinian flags during their victory lap.
In the press conference after the game, he stated, “It was very important for us.” We all came to a decision collectively.
“I’m thankful that God has given us the chance to address the Palestine issue in the ways that we can.”
United’s action was not all that dissimilar from other sports fans across the globe who have publicly documented their protests by hanging banners and gatherings of supporters at stadiums.
Celtic supporters staged similar demonstrations during last month’s Scottish Premiership games, and they also occurred during the most recent Asian Cup in Qatar.
