Sports

Bangladesh ‘Super Fan’ Tiger Roby Assaulted During 2nd Test Against India, Hospitalized

An incident occurred at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur yesterday during the second Test match between India and Bangladesh that led to chaos as a Bangladeshi cricket fan known only as ‘Tiger Roby’ was taken to hospital following an alleged assault by some of those watching.

According to Roby, who said he needed urgent medical help after being hit on his back and the lower part of his stomach, security staff stepped in quickly; they escorted him from the ground and he soon received treatment at a nearby hospital. Still clearly shocked when speaking exclusively to Sportstar afterward, he explained: “They were thumping me so hard on my back plus stomach – I couldn’t breathe properly.”

Footage circulated by the news agency shows Roby looking distressed while trying to describe what happened – lots of pain can be seen on his face. He also claimed that members of the public had attacked him whilst play was going on.

Yet, police present at the event questioned Roby’s assault allegations. They said that when discovered close to the C Block entrance, he had trouble breathing and speaking clearly.

Credit: Press Trust Of India

One officer speculated that rather than being beaten up by fellow concert-goers, Roby might have become dehydrated. Roby claimed in interviews that people in the audience had been teasing him all day long – so he’d gone up to a balcony where he felt safe.

He recalled: “I was only standing there because I was scared, but a policeman told me not to. I’ve seen loads of Bollywood films so I know what’s being said when someone’s hurling abuse!”

There have been previous occasions where confrontations between supporters of the Indian and Bangladeshi cricket teams have ended in violence.

For example, in 2023 at a game during the ODI World Cup held in Pune, things turned nasty for another well-known fan from Bangladesh, Shoaib Ali Bukhari aka ‘Tiger Shoaib’, when his iconic tiger mascot was destroyed by Indian followers.

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Security was tight at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium ahead of the Test match – officials were taking no chances after hearing that Hindu Mahasabha activists might protest there over alleged atrocities against Hindus in their country.