BAN vs NZ: Terror on the Field! Pitch Invader Grabs Rachin Ravindra in Rawalpindi
Rachin Ravindra was left stunned as a pitch invader, reportedly a supporter of a banned militant-backed party, breached security and hugged him during the match in Rawalpindi.
In a shocking incident, New Zealand’s star batter Rachin Ravindra was left stunned after a pitch invader forcefully hugged him during the ongoing match against Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The Kiwi batter had a stellar outing, scoring a brilliant century in the crucial encounter.
While Rachin’s elegant stroke play captivated the Rawalpindi crowd, the atmosphere turned tense when a spectator breached security and ran onto the field. The intruder grabbed Ravindra from behind, momentarily shocking the cricketer. According to reports from Associated Press (AP), the pitch invader was a supporter of Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), an Islamist party banned by the government in 2021.
The individual, after hugging Rachin, displayed a picture of TLP leader Saad Rizvi before security personnel intervened and escorted him off the field. The breach raised serious concerns about player safety in high-profile matches.
— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) February 24, 2025
Meanwhile, Rachin Ravindra continued his sublime form, scoring 112 runs off 105 balls, including 12 fours and a six. His composed innings provided stability to New Zealand’s run chase. At the time of writing, New Zealand was at 214/4 in 41 overs, needing just 25 more runs to seal their place in the tournament’s semi-finals.
