Bangladeshi’s ardent cricket fan, who dresses as a tiger, was admitted in a hospital after "falling ill" while watching the second Test against India at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur on Friday (September 27).
The super fan named Robi was in stand C and had to be carried out of the stadium in a state of suffering. Initially, he suggested that it was a case of physical assault but reversed his statement later on.
"He was gasping for breath when he met a constable. He became unconscious before we could speak to him, but now he is fine," Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Harish Chander told new agency PTI.
During a brief interaction with media, 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 fans 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. My name is Robi and I have come from Bangladesh," he stated in a short video clip.
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.
"During the Test match between India and Bangladesh, one of the spectators whose name is Tiger, suddenly fell ill," the officer stated.
"As soon as he fell ill, he was picked up by the police and was sent to the medical team for treatment. He is fine now and a liaison officer as been attached to him so that he can get help if needed.
"There were some reports of assault but these are baseless, no such incident happened with him. He might have taken a fall, this is what we have been able to gather," he added.
Earlier, an Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association official revealed that Robi could barely talk when he came 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 he fell," the official said.
On the eve of the match, Robi had stated in a video that "there is a conspiracy to hurt Bangladeshi supporters" during the Kanpur Test.
"But we are ready for the possibility that we might be stopped from entering the stadium. In that case we will sit outside and support the team," he had said.
"I know that I might face trouble but I am ready for that," he added.
Talking about the Kanpur Test, Bangladesh ended the opening day on 107/3 after being asked to bat first. Only 35 overs of play was possible on Day 1 due to rain.
(With PTI Inputs)
