Lancashire Apologise After Pakistan Fan Ejected From Old Trafford During England-India Test

Lancashire County Cricket Club has issued an apology following an incident that saw a fan wearing a Pakistan shirt removed from the stands during the final day of the fourth Test between England and India at Old Trafford on July 27, 2025.

The fan, Farooq Nazar, was asked by a member of the stadium’s security staff to cover his Pakistan cricket shirt, which he refused to do. A video shared by Nazar on social media captured parts of the exchange, in which he was told that the request had come from stadium ‘control.’ After declining multiple times to comply, Nazar was escorted out of the stadium by security and police personnel.

In a public statement issued after an internal review, Lancashire said they “apologise for any upset and offence caused,” noting that this had not been the intention, and that the club would reassess its procedures for similar situations in the future.

Lancashire clarified that Nazar’s ejection was not simply due to the shirt he wore as a Pakistani fan, but rather due to his response to stadium staff. The club stated he was “asked to leave the stadium by stewards and police officers due to unacceptable behaviour directed towards the stewarding team.”

The club also provided context, citing a separate incident on the previous day of the Test match. On Saturday, tensions reportedly flared between some Indian and Pakistani fans in the stands after a group of spectators displayed a Pakistan flag. In Sunday’s case, Lancashire says they took a precautionary approach, believing that the visible display of Pakistan’s cricket colours in a predominantly Indian crowd might lead to further tension.

Lancashire reiterated that the intention was not to discriminate against fans based on national affiliation, but to act in the interest of stadium safety, particularly given the wider geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan. The incident came just days after an India veterans team refused to play Pakistan in the Legends tournament in Birmingham, and amid ongoing political strain that has affected sporting ties, including the absence of bilateral series between the two countries since 2012.

While the club has acknowledged the controversy surrounding the incident, their apology signals a recognition of the need for better handling of cross-national sensitivities in multicultural sporting events, especially in a country like England where diasporas from both India and Pakistan form large parts of the cricket fanbase.

Lancashire confirmed it will be reviewing its protocols to ensure that future incidents are managed with “greater clarity and consistency,” particularly when it comes to balancing fan expression and crowd safety.