Bangladesh "Super Fan" Tiger Roby assaulted during 2nd test against India, hospitalized

Chaos erupted at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur on Friday during Day 1 of the second Test between India and Bangladesh when a Bangladeshi cricket fan, known as ‘Tiger Roby’, was allegedly assaulted by spectators. The fan was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital after claiming he was struck on his back and lower abdomen.

Roby, visibly distressed, recounted to Sportstar, “They hit me on my back and lower abdomen, and I could not breathe.” In a video posted by PTI, Roby is seen in significant pain, struggling to communicate and explaining through gestures that he was attacked by the crowd.

Security personnel swiftly intervened and escorted Roby to the hospital for urgent medical care. Despite these claims, local police at the venue denied any reports of an assault. According to law enforcement, Roby was found near the C Block entrance struggling to breathe, which they suggested could have been due to dehydration rather than a physical altercation.

In an interview with the Indian Express, Roby further explained that the crowd had been hurling abuses at him since the start of the day's play. To escape the hostility, he climbed to the balcony for safety. “A cop told me not to stand at that block. I was there only because I was scared. They were hurling abuses since morning. I have watched enough Bollywood movies to understand the abuses,” he said.

This incident is not an isolated one, as tensions between Indian and Bangladesh cricket fans have previously escalated into violence. During the 2023 ODI World Cup match in Pune, another well-known Bangladeshi supporter, Shoaib Ali Bukhari, also known as ‘Tiger Shoaib’, was targeted by Indian fans, and his iconic tiger mascot was torn apart.

Ahead of the Kanpur Test, security at Green Park Stadium had already been increased due to concerns about potential protests from the Hindu Mahasabha. The organization had threatened demonstrations during the match, citing alleged atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.