ISLAMABAD – Banners reading “#Justice for Kashmir” and “India stop genocide& free Kashmir” were flown over Headingley during India’s World Cup clashwith Sri Lanka on Saturday.
It was the second such incident at the event in England and Wales, after abanner was flown over the same ground in Leeds during last week’s matchbetween Pakistan and Afghanistan.
An insurgency in Indian-occupied Kashmir over the past three decades hasleft more than 70,000 dead, mainly civilians.
“We are incredibly disappointed this has happened again,” the InternationalCricket Council said in a statement. “We do not condone any sort ofpolitical messages at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
“Throughout the tournament we have worked with local police forces aroundthe country to prevent this type of protest occurring. After the previousincident we were assured by West Yorkshire Police there would not be arepeat of this issue, so we are very dissatisfied it has happened again.”
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Last week’s group game between Pakistan and Afghanistan was marred byclashes between fans, prompting a police probe.
The ugly scenes were sparked by the flying of a banner over the groundreading: “Justice for Balochistan.”
