‘India stop genocide’: Banners fly over Headingley during India’s World Cup clash with Sri Lanka in protest to ‘free Kashmir’
- It was the second such incident at the tournament in England and Wales
- A banner was flown over the same ground in Leeds during last week’s match
- The governing body remained confident authorities would enforce no-fly zones
Banners were flown over Headingley during India’s World Cup Clash with Sri Lanka on Saturday calling for ‘India to stop genocide and free Kashmir’.
It was the second such incident at the tournament in England and Wales, after a banner was flown over the same ground in Leeds during last week’s match between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
An insurgency in Indian-occupied Kashmir over the past three decades has left more than 70,000 dead, mainly civilians.
Banners were flown over Headingley during India’s World Cup Clash with Sri Lanka
It was the second such incident at the tournament in England and Wales
‘Justice for Kashmir,’ read one slogan. ‘India stop genocide,’ another.
‘We are incredibly disappointed this has happened again. We do not condone any sort of political messages at the Cricket World Cup. Throughout the tournament we have worked with local police forces around the country to prevent this type of protest occurring,’ said an ICC spokesperson.
‘After the previous incident we were assured by West Yorkshire Police there would not be repeat of this issue, so we are very dissatisfied it has happened again.’
Despite the breach, the spokesperson said the governing body remained confident authorities would enforce no-fly zones around Old Trafford and Edgbaston for next week’s semi-finals.
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