World Cup 2019: Plane Flies Over Edgbaston With Protest Banner during AUS vs NZ Semi-Final

During the India-Sri Lanka group match, a plane flew over the Headingley Cricket Ground with banners reading, “Justice for Kashmir,” and “India stop genocide & free Kashmir.”

Small aircrafts towing political messages continued to embarrass the host country after a plane with a message in support of Balochistan flew over the Edgbaston cricket stadium during the second semi-final between England and Australia here Thursday. A small plane has circled the semifinal between Australia and England five times while trailing a protest banner in the skies of Birmingham. The banner read, “World must speak up for Balochistan,” a province in Pakistan.

Another plane flying over Edgbaston during the Semi final of the #CWc19 with political message on. What do you think? #EngvAus pic.twitter.com/tVd2mknuwx

— Ihtisham ul Haq (@iihtishamm) July 11, 2019

This was not the first time small aircrafts carrying political messages flew over the venues during the ongoing World Cup.

Plane trails banner urging "World must speak up for #Balochistan" during #ENGvAUS ICC Semi Finals. The banner is aimed at highlighting the dire human rights situation in Balochistan that requires immediate international attention.#Endenforceddisappearences in Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/57rI0n4B8Q

— WBO (@WorldBalochOrg) July 11, 2019

Such an incident happened during two group matches in Leeds. During the India-Sri Lanka group match, a plane flew over the Headingley Cricket Ground with banners reading, “Justice for Kashmir,” and “India stop genocide & free Kashmir.” It was further followed by another plane with a message to stop mob lynching in India. Before that, during the Pakistan-Afganistan match, a banner was towed also about Balochistan. Red-faced by such repeated incidents and pressure from the BCCI, the ICC and the Local Organising Committee were forced to declare the air space over Old Trafford as no-fly zone during the first semifinal between India and New Zealand. But the India-New Zealand tie too witnessed its share of drama when four Pro-Khalistan Sikh spectators were evicted from the stadium by the ICC for sporting T-shirts with political messages.