Sethi alleges being manhandled by PTI supporters after Pakistan-India match

PCB executive committee head says police pulled him to safety after he was attacked by political activists in London

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s Executive Committee chairman Najam Sethi has claimed he was "manhandled, pushed and shoved" by a group of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters at The Oval after the thrilling Champions Trophy final between Pakistan and India.

Pakistan routed their arch-rivals by 180 runs in an astonishing match on Sunday. Title-holders India, set 339 to win, collapsed to 33-3 and 54-5 against a Pakistan side they had thrashed by 124 runs in their tournament opener at Edgbaston on June 4. They were eventually dismissed for 158 in reply to Pakistan's 338-4.



“I was manhandled, pushed and shoved by a small group of PTI supporters. Police pulled me to safety. Overwhelming love and affection though,” Sethi tweeted late on Sunday night.

I was manhandled pushed and shoved by a small group of PTI supporters. Police pulled me to safety. Overwhelming love and affection though. https://t.co/67ZThw28FT

— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) June 18, 2017

Earlier, Board of Investment (BoI) chairman Miftah Ismail said: “I just heard that Sethi was physically attacked by a bunch of youthful supporters of PTI. He had to seek police protection. Horrible.”

I just heard that Najam Sethi was physically attacked by a bunch of youthful supporters of PTI. He had to seek police protection. Horrible.

— Miftah Ismail (@MiftahIsmail) June 18, 2017

Responding to Ismail, a Geo News correspondent first rejected the Pakistan Super League (PSL) head’s claims of being manhandled by PTI supporters but later confirmed the incident citing “several journalists and eyewitnesses”.

https://twitter.com/MurtazaGeoNews/status/876522033156427780

Several journalists & eyewitnesses confirm a group chanting pro-PTI slogans was involvd in manhandling @najamsethi outside Oval #PakVsIndia

— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) June 18, 2017

However, a video posted by the official PTI account on Twitter showed Sethi arriving at The Oval and a group of charged Pakistani fans chanting “Go Nawaz Go” slogans. “Spotting Sethi after a glorious win, jubilant Pakistanis burst spontaneously into #GoNawazGo outside The Oval,” PTI tweeted.

Spotting Najam Sethi after a glorious win, jubilant Pakistanis burst spontaneously into #GoNawazGo outside the Oval#ICCTrophy2017 pic.twitter.com/cAX6uXVE19

— PTI (@PTIofficial) June 18, 2017