Kolkata: Palestinian Flag Waved During Pakistan-Bangladesh World Cup Match, 4 Detained

The four people were removed from the stadium and detained to avoid any tension during the match, which saw Pakistan defeating Bangladesh

Kolkata Police detained four people after they waved the Palestinian flag during the Pakistan vs Bangladesh World Cup cricket match at the Eden Gardens. The four, all in their mid-twenties, were let off after preliminary questioning.

A senior police officer said the people did not raise any slogans and were removed from the stadium and detained to avoid any tension during the match, which saw Pakistan decimating Bangladesh by seven wickets. A report in IANS said the four people were sitting in two different areas at the spectators' gallery of Eden Gardens.

"We had detained them for waving the Palestinian flag near Gate 6 and Block G1 (during the match on Tuesday)," the police officer told PTI.

Initial probe established that the four people displayed Palestinian flags in a bid to express solidarity towards Palestine amid the war between Israel and Palestinian outfit Hamas, which has killed over 10,000 people. The people chose the international match to bring their protest to light. 

The conflict between Israel and Hamas entered its 26th day on Wednesday, with Israel intensifying its offensive in Gaza. One of the largest refugee camps in Gaza were pounded by airstrikes, killing several people. Israel claimed the attack killed a Hamas commander who played a key role in the offensive carried out by the militant outfit on October 7.

"Since the beginning of the war, the Israel Defence Forces has struck over 11,000 targets belonging to terrorist organisations in the Gaza Strip," a military official told AFP.

The Gaza Health Ministry said the death toll in Palestine crossed the 8,000 mark and the deceased were mostly women and minors. Over 1,400 people have died on the Israeli side, AP reported. A total of 326 Israeli soldiers have been killed since October 7, according to the military.

Pakistan Keep Semi-Final Hopes Alive After Trouncing Bangladesh

Meanwhile, the match at Eden Gardens turned to be a one-sided affair as Pakistan trounced a hapless Bangladesh, keeping their faint hopes of semi-final qualification alive.

Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and Wasim Jr took three wickets apiece to derail Bangladesh's hopes of putting up a competitive score. Afridi is now the leading wicket-taker at this World Cup. Bangladesh could only manage to score 204. For Pakistan, Fakhar Zaman led from the front and scored a patient 74-ball 81 to set up Pakistan's win.