As India lost the plot, fans lost their cool

All the hard work put in by the DDCA over the last few weeks to stage this match could have been undone in a moment of senselessness from th...

All the hard work put in by the DDCA over the last few weeks to stage this match could have been undone in a moment of senselessness from the ‘‘supporters’’ in the stands when they began throwing bottles and water dispensers onto the ground.

Sources say that when the incidents took place, around the time India’s wickets were collapsing like ninepins, umpire Rudi Koertzen threatened to award the match in favour of Pakistan.

The South African, known for his no-nonsense attitude, demanded a guarantee from senior police officials present that the crowd would be brought

under control and no more bottles would be thrown onto the field.

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The match was disrupted for 16 minutes as umpires took the Pakistan players off the field and only came back after an assurance from security officials that the situation was under control.

Trouble started soon after India collapsed through a combination of poor running between the wickets and indiscreet shots. As all practical chances of winning faded with Mohammad Kaif’s dismissal, the crowd in the B and C enclosures started hurling the large water dispensers.

Their frustration was only partly with India’s batting; they were also upset over the fact that they’d spent much of the day without water. The heavy security meant that fans were not allowed to carry water bottles into the ground.

It didn’t seem to affect the players much, however. Asked whether his team members were upset , Inzamam-ul Haq said, ‘‘It’s part of the game.’’

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‘‘We were disappointed to see bottles being thrown on to the ground’’, said Rahul Dravid. ‘‘I can understand the frustration of the people when we don’t perform well. But there are other ways of showing one’s frustrations.’’