The scene at Rawalpindi - Observations by an Englishman in Pakistan

Nasser Hussain remarked after the eventful third one-day international in Rawalpindi, "it must make great viewing because there's never a dull moment". I have watched all three of the one-day internationals from the General Enclosures and the experience and atmosphere is unlike any other cricket match I have attended. It is a shame that the British press will pick up on the unruly elements of Pakistani crowds whilst ignoring their many good qualities.

Inside the stadium there are few examples of crowd violence. A few fights break out in the stands, but these are small and short lasting. A few small fires were lit in the stands, but other spectators quickly put these out. The players seemed to be over dramatic in their response to the tear gas. I saw players fall to the ground clutching at their faces. Spectators in the stands just covered their faces and breathed normally. It was definitely considered to be an amusing moment. Play was also stopped due to plastic bottles being thrown onto the pitch. This has happened in all three matches in the second innings, whether it be England or Pakistan fielding. All these incidents can be attribute to the predominantly young male crowd becoming restless and over-excited. The cricket becomes more of a sideshow, with the chanting and the actual celebrations for a wicket or a boundary becoming more important.

The problem with violence lies outside the stadium. At all three venues there have been incidents of violence. Rawalpindi was the most chaotic. Even when I arrived at eleven the police were firing tear gas towards would-be spectators who were throwing stones. There were roadblocks all around the stadium and spectators were being asked to show their tickets constantly. In Rawalpindi, mounted riot police and police with lathis were being used to disperse the crowds.

The problem was that demand for tickets to these matches was huge. The attraction has been an England team who haven't toured for thirteen years and the fact that these matches were being played under floodlights with giant TV screens in the stadiums (sometimes). Many people turn up for these matches on the off chance that they can gain entry. The police try to disperse the crowd, which in turn leads to the crowd themselves becoming angry. The sad thing is that many genuine ticket holders become involved and are refused entry. There are also problems with ticket allocation. In Karachi some 30%of genuine ticket holders were refused entry on account of their seats being taken by officials and their guests. In Lahore there was a similar problem. This obviously breeds resentment among the genuine fans.

As an England supporter in Pakistan I have been treated fantastically. Wherever I have watched cricket the Pakistani fans have been warm and welcoming. I am constantly approached for a chat and offers of food or a place to stay. The Pakistani fans must also be some of the most knowledgeable fans in the world. They applaud good cricket whether it is from Pakistan or England. I cannot imagine a better place to watch cricket and think it is a great shame that poor ticketing policies and inexperienced crowd control techniques spoil these wonderful occasions.