Published 15:08 IST, July 14th 2019
World Cup: 'Help end enforced disappearances in Balochistan' poster spotted outside Lord's before the finals, leaves Pakistan red-faced
After the "World must speak up for Balochistan" banner was flown over Edgbaston during the semi-final match of England versus Australia on July 11, another embarrassment surfaced for Pakistan, this time a truck with a digital poster displaying the message "Help end enforced disappearances in Balochistan" was spotted outside the Lord's Cricket Grounds in London on the eve of the World Cup finals on July 14
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After the "World must speak up for Balochistan" banner was flown over Edgbaston during the semi-final match of England versus Australia on July 11, another embarrassment surfaced for Pakistan, this time a truck with a digital poster displaying the message "Help end enforced disappearances in Balochistan" was spotted outside the Lord's Cricket Grounds in London on the eve of the World Cup finals on July 14.
The airspace over the grounds was ordered to be shut owing to security concerns following the previous incident but the message resurfaced in a different manner via a digital poster on a truck and was spotted outside the stadium before the England versus New Zealand summit clash.
In the World Cup 2019, a plane was used for political messaging at three different instances. During the Pakistan-Afghanistan match at Headingley in Leeds, a banner that had "Justice for Balochistan" written on it flew over. In yet another incident, banner with "India stop genocide and free Kashmir" was also flown during India's match against Sri Lanka. Following the anti-India banner, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) raised the issue with the ICC. The ICC had then said that it has registered a complaint with the West Yorkshire police about the act. ICC also denied having received any written complaint from the BCCI.
"We have made a police complaint with West Yorkshire to find out who all have been behind this incident. But we haven't received any written complaint from BCCI so far. Yes, one senior BCCI official expressed his concern and we have assured that ICC will do whatever be could be possible." an ICC top official told Republic TV. Republic TV also confronted the pro-Pakistan group behind the banner controversy.
The organizer, Fahim Kayani in a telephonic conversation with Republic TV admitted that the Britain-based Kashmiri organization was 'pro-Pakistan' because he claimed that Pakistan was the "only country on an international level who plead a case for the people of Kashmir." The organizer further said that there are rich businessmen supporting him and that thousands of pounds were spent for this act.
14:38 IST, July 14th 2019