The Cricket World Cup, officially termed ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, stands as the primary international championship for One Day International (ODI) cricket. Administered by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the tournament occurs every four years, incorporating preliminary qualification rounds that culminate in a finals tournament. Acknowledged as one of the most-watched sporting events globally, the Cricket World Cup holds the designation of the “flagship event of the international cricket calendar” according to the ICC. It is universally recognized as the foremost championship in the realm of cricket. The inaugural World Cup took place in England in June 1975, marking the commencement of the prestigious event. Notably, the first One Day International (ODI) cricket match had been played only four years prior to the inception of the World Cup. It is worth mentioning that a Women’s Cricket World Cup had been organized two years before the initiation of the men’s tournament. Additionally, a tournament featuring multiple international teams had been conducted as early as 1912, consisting of a triangular series of Test matches played between Australia, England, and South Africa.
Who is Wen Johnson?
The Ahmedabad police on Sunday filed a case against the individual who breached security to hug Virat Kohli during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final between India and Australia at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The person, identified as Wen Johnson, expressed support for Palestine, which has been under attack by Israel since October 7 when Hamas launched a surprise assault on southern Israel. The police stated, “The accused described himself as a big fan of Virat Kohli and had come to watch the match. Being a fan, he crossed the railing and went into the ground.”
The case has been registered against the accused under sections 332 and 447 of the IPC for unauthorized entry into the Gujarat Cricket Association stadium, reported ANI. During the ongoing final match, the pitch intruder, wearing a T-shirt with a Free Palestine slogan and a mask with a Palestinian flag color theme, invaded the field, stating, “My name is John… I am from Australia. I entered (the field) to meet Virat Kohli. I support Palestine.” The pitch invader, identified as Wen Johnson, is known to be a TikTok prankster with a history of intruding on matches. He is also reported to be a big fan of Virat Kohli. This is not the first instance of Wen entering the pitch after breaching security; he previously disrupted the FIFA Women’s World Cup final this year. An Instagram profile named ‘Pyjamamann’ indicates that the pitch invader has been involved in protests worldwide for various causes, such as wearing a “Free Ukraine” t-shirt during the FIFA Women’s World Cup final, causing a 20-minute delay in the match.