England Bans Israel, Palestine, and PTI Flags in Stadiums During Pakistan T20I Series
This follows disruptions in the Ireland vs Pakistan series where fans displayed flags of PTI, Imran Khan, Palestine, Israel, and Afghanistan.
England and Pakistan will face each other in the four-match T20I series, starting May 22. The series will be a good platform for both teams to fine-tune their squads ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, which will be staged in the West Indies and the USA.
Pakistan recently beat Ireland 2-1 and will look to carry the momentum against Jos Buttler & Co. The focus will be on Babar Azam, who recently surpassed Uganda’s Brian Masaba to become the most successful captain in T20Is.
Meanwhile, ahead of the series, a report has emerged that the England Cricket Board has banned the flags of PTI, Palestine, Israel, and Afghanistan inside stadiums during the T20 series between Pakistan and England.
What Makes the ECB Take This Decision?
This comes after disruptions during the recent Ireland vs Pakistan series, where fans displayed flags representing Pakistan’s political party PTI, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Palestine, Israel, and Afghanistan.
A tense exchange even occurred between Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi and an Afghan supporter during the series finale.
The ECB’s reasoning behind the ban remains unclear, but it likely aims to maintain a neutral atmosphere within the stadiums and avoid any potential political or religious tensions during the series.