Bangladesh super fan, Tiger Robi, needed medical aid after he fell ill on Day 1 of the Kanpur Test.
Bangladesh cricket team’s super fan Rabi-ul-Islam, popularly known as Tiger Robi, has been deported to his country, news agency PTI reported on Saturday (September 28).
This development comes a day after he was admitted to a hospital while watching the second India versus Bangladesh Test match at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. He was in stand C and had to be carried out of the stadium in a state of distress.
Initially, Rabi alleged that he was beaten by locals but later retracted his claims, attributing his discomfort to a medical issue.
However, Additional DCP (Local Intelligence Unit) Rajesh Kumar Srivastava said Robi, who was suffering from metastatic cancer, had entered on a medical visa and authorities had facilitated his travel back home as per his wish.
Robi was taken to Chakeri airport escorted by police personnel and they remained there till his flight departed for Delhi on Saturday. The Bangladeshi national boarded a flight for Dhaka from Delhi airport in the afternoon and he was not allowed to go outside the airport premises, the official said.
Speaking to PTI, ADCP Srivastava revealed that Robi had come to India on September 18 after getting a visa on medical grounds. He was supposed to undergo treatment at a hospital in Howrah but instead visited Chennai to support the Bangladesh team in the first Test and later left for Kanpur.
Robi reached Green Park stadium on Friday morning and walked to the C-Balcony enclosure and was seen waving flags during the match which may have resulted in exhaustion and he was taken ill, police officials said.
"He was found gasping for breath when he met a constable. He became unconscious before we could speak to him," Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Harish Chander told PTI.
“He was taken to Regency Hospital from where he was discharged on Friday late evening," the ACP added.
During a brief interaction with media on Friday, Robi indicated that he had been punched in his abdomen during an altercation.
However, in a statement issued from his hospital bed later, the visiting fan said he felt unwell and received the necessary aid from the local police.
"I fell ill and the police brought me to the hospital. Now I am feeling much better," he stated in a short video clip.
According to officials, Robi had reached Kanpur on Thursday night and he had to sleep on the street along with labourers.
He stayed at a hotel in Kanpur on Friday night and was taken to Chakeri airport on Saturday morning, they said.
Abhishek Pandey, ACP (Kalyanpur), said the Bangladesh fan received immediate medical care and insisted that he had not been assaulted as claimed in early reports.
Sources said it is not clear how he travelled for the matches despite having a medical visa and has been deported.
(With PTI Inputs)