After being snatched away from several fans at the entry gates and in the stands, Palestinian flags were finally waved in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the symbol of protest against Israel’s atrocities in Gaza was carried freely at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium on Monday night.
The flags were carried by the players of Islamabad United — who won their third PSL title after beating Multan Sultans by two wickets in the final — in their victory lap right after the match, as the crowds rose to laud them.
The gesture comes after several incidents in which fans were disallowed from taking Palestinian flags and banners with messages of solidarity with Gazans into the stadiums.
A woman was intimidated by security officials in Lahore to let go of such banners during the early days of the ninth season of the PSL. Meanwhile, in Karachi, two videos went viral of police personnel snatching Palestinian flags from supporters who were displaying them in the stands.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had remained silent over the issue since it emerged on social media for the first time and its newly-elected chairman Mohsin Naqvi deflected it to provincial governments.
