Minority spoil Indian party (9 June 1999)

9 June 1999

Minority spoil Indian party

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

For the best part of seven hours yesterday the deep-seated rivalry between India and Pakistan was almost forgotten.

All talk of a security red alert looked more like a red herring as opposition supporters cast aside the tensions between the two countries in Kashmir and turned Old Trafford into one big party, writes Andy Neild.

Fans waved flags, beat drums, and blew whistles as the World Cup finally lived up to it's billing as the carnival of cricket.

But then 10 minutes of lunacy by a small minority of so-called fans intent on violence wrecked all the hard work.

Everyone had predicted fireworks from a sporting contest which stirs up nationalist sentiment like no other in the world.

But few would have expected them literally.

When India finally wrapped up a brilliant 47-run victory to keep themselves in the competition after an enthralling day's play, thousands of fans raced onto the pitch.

Seconds later, a flare dispersed pieces of shrapnel into the crowd like scud missiles, triggering a spate of mini explosions. By some minor miracle no-one was seriously hurt.

Fighting then broke out between small sections of fans while others, mainly Pakistani, went looking for trouble.

Several Indian flags were burnt and the discarded flag poles thrown as spears.

But just as mayhem looked set to break loose, stewards and police finally regained control and calm was restored.

Opposite skippers Wasim Akram and Mohammad Azharuddin barely batted an eyelid when questioned about it afterwards.

"I knew all along that the crowd over here wouldn't cause any problems," said Wasim.

"They are sensible people and they were just here to watch and enjoy a great game of cricket."

But his sentiments simply underlined the sad reality - World Cup organisers had got away with it lightly! No Test series in recent history has finished in a more eerie atmosphere than that between India and Pakistan in February this year.

Two crowd riots at Eden Gardens within the space of 24 hours - the first a protest over the controversial dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar, the second a hail of stones and bottles as Pakistan clinched the series - caused the Calcutta Test to be concluded in an empty stadium.

As a consequence, organisers mounted the biggest security operation English cricket had ever seen to quell the threat of any repeat in this country.

Every fan was searched going into the ground and any items deemed potential weapons were confiscated, along with alcohol and offensive banners. But that didn't affect the atmosphere as fans mixed freely and exchanged friendly banter for the majority of the day.

Old Trafford was a wall of noise as Wasim Akram lead his team out to a hero's welcome after India won the toss and elected to bat. And the former Lancashire star and his fellow opening bowler Shoaib Akhtar caused some early tremors on the speed gun as a couple of deliveries broke the 90mph barrier.

That was nothing, though, compared to the decibel levels which rose and rose as the day went on.

And as long as Tendulkar was at the crease, it was the Indian fans who made most noise.

He looked well set for a big innings, quickly caressing his way to 45, before one lapse of concentration cost him his wicket.

Rahul Dravid then took up the gauntlet with a gutsy 61 before a late flurry from Azharuddin (59) (who, for the most part of his innings, looked like he was trying to knock the cover off an onion bhaji with a stick of celery) hauled the Indians up to 227-6.

At the lunch interval both sides thought they had won it and the atmosphere around the ground was electric. Fans danced to a steel band and and one of the catering vans knocked out curries quicker than they could make it.

And Pakistan openers Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi seemed to have a taste for the occasion rattling up 19 in quick time. But wickets started to fall at regular intervals - mainly to the outstanding Venkatesh Prasad and Javagal Srinath - and by the time Mexican waves started to lap around the ground, not even Wasim could save Pakistan from their third successive defeat.

"It's more psychological than anything else. We just need to win a game, then I think we'll be okay," said Wasim.

"Hopefully, we'll bounce back against Zimbabwe. The boys are still hungry because they are very disappointed after this."

It's still possible India and Pakistan could meet again in a semi-final at Old Trafford next week.

Organisers will be praying that doesn't happen, though, because in that clash the stakes would be higher - and so would the tension.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (http://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)

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