PCB condemn "hooliganism" following crowd trouble at Pakistan-Afghanistan match

The PCB intend to write to the ICC and "lodge a protest" over the incident, which saw fans clash and Sharjah's stadium damaged

The Pakistan Cricket Board has condemned the "hooliganism" which marred their side's Asia Cup victory over Afghanistan.

Pakistan secured a tight one-wicket victory with four balls to spare in Sharjah to book their spot in the final, where they will face Sri Lanka.

However, tempers began to flare in the stands after the match, with evidence of brawls and considerable damage to the stadium posted across social media.

Several fans were detained in the aftermath but no arrests were made.

During the match, there were also heated scenes on the field, most notably between Asif Ali (Pakistan) and Afghanistan bowler Fareed Ahmad. The Pakistan batter did not take kindly to Fareed's overzealous celebrations following his dismissal and the pair exchanged words.

^{Tempers also flared on the field [Francois Nel/Getty Images]}

The PCB intend to write to the ICC and "lodge a protest" over the crowd trouble.

Addressing the incident, PCB chair, Ramiz Raja, said: "You can't link hooliganism with cricket and this environment makes you sick. We will write to ICC, raise concerns, and do whatever we can because the visuals were gruesome.

"This [crowd trouble after an Afghanistan-Pakistan game] didn't happen for the first time. Wins and losses are a part of the game. It was a gruelling contest, but emotions should have been kept in control. Until the environment is right, you can't grow and go forward as a cricket-playing nation.

"So, we are going to express our anguish and frustration to the ICC. We owe it to our fans, anything could have happened. Our team could have been in danger. So, whatever the protocol is we will follow that and lodge our protest."

The Afghanistan Cricket Board responded to the incident on Twitter, commenting: "Cricket is regarded as a phenomenon of harmony and more intimate relations between nations.

"Let's work together for bringing the cricket fraternity closer. Cricket does not allow for us to show negative emotions on the field and turn the friendship atmosphere into violence."

This is not the first time Pakistan and Afghanistan fans have clashed. At the 2021 T20 World Cup, ticketless spectators clashed outside a stadium in Dubai while two years earlier, there was a brawl at Headingley when the two sides met in the 50-over World Cup.