The four-day cricket match began in an almost deserted stadium, with only a few spectators present.
As the match progressed, small groups of spectators started filling up the stands. Within hours, the stadium was packed with around 10,000 people. This surge in attendance puzzled the players.
Soon after the stadium filled up, police arrived and approached the captain, Ramiz Raja. They instructed the players to remove the wickets from the field.
A convict, escorted by officers and a flogger, entered the field. The convict was bound to a post near the short-leg position, where he was publicly flogged with a whip.
The scene was described as surreal, with the flogger taking a run-up similar to that of a fast bowler before delivering the lashes. Despite the brutality of the act, the convict reportedly waved to the crowd after enduring the punishment.
Once the flogging concluded, the crowd dispersed almost immediately. The match resumed, but the stadium was now empty again, leaving the players to reflect on the unusual events of the day.
This incident highlights the unusual intersection of sport and public punishment during General Ziaul Haq’s regime in Pakistan. It underscores the unpredictable nature of public life under such authoritarian rule, where ordinary events like a cricket match could be disrupted by dramatic displays of power and punishment.
