ICC World Cup 2019: Fans dress as 'sandpaper' to mock Australia's Warner and Smith

Coach Langer's pleas went in vain as the fans in the crowd at County Ground in Bristol booed, taunted the Aussie opening duo by coming dressed as sandpaper during Australia’s CWC 2019 opener against Afghanistan on Saturday.

Australian coach Justin Langer had requested fans to show Steve Smith and David Warner respect and not boo them during the World Cup. However, Langer's pleas went in vain as the fans in the crowd at County Ground in Bristol booed, taunted the Aussie opening duo by coming dressed as sandpaper during Australia’s CWC 2019 opener against Afghanistan on Saturday. “Omg. People are dressed as sandpaper hahah lol, I’m guessing to taunt Warner and Smith???,” tweeted a user.

Trolling level: The Great Britan!#sandpaper #ICCCricketWorldCup2019 pic.twitter.com/hNDD0u1DO7

— Murali Krishna (@muraliii) June 1, 2019

Omg 😂😂😂😂 People are dressed as sandpaper hahah lol, I'm guessing to taunt Warner and Smith??? #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/hTxSmbLsfH

— James Smeaton (@smeaton_james) June 2, 2019

See the two people on the middle balcony? They’re watching David Warner dressed up as giant sheets of 3M sandpaper, rubbing a giant cardboard cricket ball against themselves. #CWC19 #AFGvAUS pic.twitter.com/01IBlk4xaQ

— Sam Landsberger 🗯 (@SamLandsberger) June 1, 2019

Some creative fancy dress from one of the flats overlooking Bristol!#AFGvsAUS #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/Wz9tfEUe3o

— Henry Moeran (@henrymoeranBBC) June 1, 2019

Earlier, Langer, a former opener, said they have already paid a big price for their mistake. "You (the media) talk about earning respect, and I think it's really important that people show respect as well," Langer said ahead of five-time winners Australia's World Cup opener against Afghanistan on Saturday. The pair, who both recently completed one-year bans for ball-tampering, were given a hostile reception by the crowd at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton during Australia's warm-up victory over England. "They made a mistake and paid a big price for it. After the experience of Hampshire, we have a pretty good idea what to expect. We've talked about it a lot and we can put strategies in place," Langer said. "That said, when it happens it doesn't make it any easier. They are human beings, that's the truth -- and that's what I find the hardest. "I'd be disappointed by any player being booed at any cricket ground, regardless of what country they play for. It's never a good look when that happens."