A cricket tournament in Winnipeg, Canada went berserk, when a Canadian Under-19 cricketer was hit twice. Police had to be called around 4PM on Saturday and a person arrested in the case.
Abdul Haseeb. Photo Courtesy – Manitoba Cricket Association.
Abdul Haseeb was quoted as saying by CBC News, “We call it an international tournament. I was supposed to be playing for Pakistan, like, the team named Pakistan, but I decided not to play for them because they already had enough players that day.” According to the report, a fight broke out when Haseeb refused to play for one of the teams.
The 18-year-old wanted to join Team Canada, however, he was not allowed. “I was okay with that. I was just simply questioning them on why I wasn’t allowed to play for the other team. And this guy from nowhere comes into the conversation, arguing with me, telling me to go away when I’m not even talking to him.”
“He didn’t hit me once, he hits me twice. He keeps trying to hit me back, but I’m like trying to push him back.”
Hammad Khan, one of the witness and a cricketer, who broke the fight, said, “We’re just out here to have fun, enjoy good cricket, and I get a chance to play against a quality player, representing Canada — that’s how I was looking at it.”
“Cricket is a sport that has no physical contact, and it’s the most friendly sport. We call it a gentleman sport,” he said.
Haseeb said, “I want to make sure this never happens again, because if this can happen to me, to a national player, this can happen to anybody.”