As anticipation builds for the upcoming Tri-Nation cricket series, Sharjah Stadium has introduced stricter security measures to manage potential crowd trouble, particularly during fixtures between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
According to sources, the stadium administration will implement separate gates and spectator zones for Pakistani and Afghan fans. This change comes in response to previous altercations between the two sets of supporters during emotionally charged matches.
Past encounters between Pakistan and Afghanistan have seen crowd disturbances, most notably during the Asia Cup in Sharjah and the 2019 World Cup in England. Following such incidents, officials believe a divided seating plan may help ease tensions.
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One stadium official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Afghan fans tend to get highly emotional during close matches. They explained that dividing the crowd could help reduce the chances of heated confrontations.
The Pakistan-Afghanistan fixtures are scheduled for August 29 and September 2, and are expected to draw thousands of spectators. With this in mind, the stadium is also reviewing its broader security strategy, which includes deploying more security staff and surveillance.
The decision to introduce these changes reflects the growing need to ensure crowd discipline and protect the reputation of international cricket events hosted in the UAE.