A Bangladeshi cricket fan named Robi was at the center of an alleged altercation at Kanpur’s Green Park during the opening day of the India vs Bangladesh Test match. Initially, Robi claimed he had been assaulted by other fans but later retracted his statement, attributing his discomfort to dehydration in the Kanpur heat.
Incident at the Stadium
The incident occurred during the lunch break when Robi, with tiger stripes painted on his face, appeared to stumble out of a gate near the media area. Security officials and members of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) quickly provided him with a chair, water, and arranged an ambulance to take him to a hospital. Videos showed Robi struggling to breathe and claiming he was punched in the back and elbowed in the ribs. Earlier, he was seen waving the Bangladeshi flag in a restricted section of Stand C at Green Park, which was deemed unfit for spectators.
Eyewitnesses reported that Robi had a heated argument with Indian fans, leading to pushing and shoving, and his flag being snatched and thrown away. UPCA did not respond to questions about how Robi was able to access the barred area.
Conflicting Accounts
While in the hospital, Robi told media personnel, “I was feeling unwell. The police brought me to the hospital, and I am feeling better after being treated.” The Assistant Police Commissioner of Kalyanpur, Abhishek Pandey, clarified that Robi’s health “deteriorated suddenly” and denied any reports of an altercation. He said, “He hurt himself when he fell,” adding that Robi was found to be fit after undergoing medical tests and scans. At the time of the report, Robi remained in the hospital.
Protests Amidst the Match
The incident occurred against the backdrop of protests near the stadium. Activists associated with right-wing political parties protested Bangladesh’s participation in the Kanpur Test, citing recent attacks on the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh. The protests have been ongoing since student-led demonstrations in Bangladesh led to the end of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government in July.
Interestingly, this is not the first instance of a Bangladeshi fan facing trouble at an India match. Last year, celebrated Bangladesh supporter Shoaib Ali Bukhari was allegedly manhandled during an ODI World Cup match against India in Pune.