A Bangladeshi cricket super fan, known for his regular appearances in tiger costume, initially claimed he was assaulted while watching the Day 1 of the second Test between India and Bangladesh at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium. The fan, named Tiger Roby, indicated that he had been punched in the abdomen during a physical altercation while seated in the stands. However, he later retracted his statement, confirming that he had simply fallen ill.
The incident raised concerns when Roby was seen being carried out of the stadium in distress and subsequently hospitalised. His initial statement in viral cideo suggested that the altercation led to his discomfort, prompting suspicions of fan violence during the match.
Bangladesh Fan Tiger Roby backtracks on Assault Claim
Later, from his hospital bed, Roby clarified the situation, stating that his condition was due to illness and not an assault. In a video statement, he expressed gratitude for the help provided by the Uttar Pradesh Police, saying, “I fell ill and the police brought me to the hospital. Now I am feeling much better.”
Roby’s clarification dispelled earlier rumours of any confrontation in the stadium, confirming that his distress was purely medical in nature.
UP Police dismiss assault speculation
The Uttar Pradesh Police quickly addressed the situation, issuing a formal statement denying any assault on Roby. Abhishek Pandey, ACP (Kalyanpur), explained that the fan had received immediate medical attention after falling ill, and no evidence of physical harm was found.
“There were some reports of assault, but these are baseless. No such incident happened with him. He might have taken a fall, which is what we have gathered,” said Pandey as per PTI. The police assured that a liaison officer had been assigned to Roby to provide further assistance if required.
Uncertainty Surrounds Initial Reports
Earlier, an Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) official shared that Roby appeared to be in considerable pain and disoriented when taken out of the stands. “As he came out of the stands, he was wincing in pain and seemed to be fainting. He was given a chair to sit but collapsed shortly after,” the official stated.
The confusion surrounding the incident stemmed from Roby’s early video, where his vague comments led to the assumption that a physical altercation had occurred.
Bangladesh’s Tough India Tour continues
The incident added another layer of drama to Bangladesh’s challenging tour of India, where they had already suffered a crushing defeat in the first Test. Day 1 of the second Test also ended prematurely due to rain, with Bangladesh struggling at 107/3 by stumps.
Despite the brief controversy, the situation has now been resolved, with the focus shifting back to the ongoing Test match.
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