Indian Team’s Practice Session in Australia Disrupted by Fans
Sydney – (Pakistan’s News):
- Fans will no longer be allowed to attend the Indian team’s practice sessions during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series against Australia.
- The decision comes after fans made “derogatory” comments during a practice session ahead of the second Test.
Overwhelming Fan Turnout
- According to NDTV, the practice session was opened to fans on Tuesday.
- Only a few fans attended the Australian team’s session.
- Thousands of fans showed up for the Indian team’s session, creating chaos.
- The nets in Adelaide are close to the practice facility, allowing fans to get very close to the players.
BCCI Official’s Statement
- A senior BCCI official described the scene:
- About 70 fans attended the Australian practice session.
- Approximately 3,000 fans turned up for the Indian session, far exceeding expectations.
- The unexpected turnout caused “complete chaos.”
Cancellation of Fan Days
- Another fan day was planned before the fifth Test in Sydney.
- The incident led to its cancellation as players were upset by rude and insensitive remarks from fans.
Eyewitness Accounts of Disruptions
- Fans asked Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant to hit sixes.
- Criticism was directed at another player’s fitness.
- Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill struggled with the noisy environment, including fans chatting loudly on Facebook Live.
- Specific incidents included:
- A fan repeatedly asking a player to say “hello” in Gujarati.
- Another player facing body-shaming comments.