Virat Kohli fan Umar Draz's bail plea rejected

Umar Draz, Virat Kohli’s Pakistani fan has been sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment following the hoisting of the Indian tricolor atop his house. He had hoisted the Indian flag on top of his house following India’s win in the first T20I against Australia. Virat Kohli scored a fine 90 not out and was adjudged the man of the match.

The police that arrested the 22-year-old Draz on the grounds that it was “against the ideology of Pakistan”. The arrest took place at Draz’s home at the Okara district, approximately 200 Km from Lahore. The match was played on the 26th of January 2016, the Republic Day in India.

Regional Police officer Faisal Rana also stated that the 22-year-olds’ actions were against the sovereignty of the Pakistan state.

Draz initially told us that he is a true Pakistani but likes Kohli and never knew that was a crime,” Rana told media.

“His act is against our country’s sovereignty and is against the ideology of Pakistan.”

Rana also added that Draz’s home was also full of Kohli pictures.

“He is a diehard fan of Kohli and there were big posters pasted on the walls of his house,” the officer said.

His legal counsel Aamir Bhatti expressed his disappointment following the dismissal. We are disappointed and will challenge the decision in the session’s court,” he said.

While stating that he had made a mistake, Bhatti was quick to defend his client.”This is not a case in which someone was hoisting the flag of any country for its love. During football World Cup matches people here used to hoist Brazil and Argentina flags and nobody minds it because the gesture is seen in a sports perspective. This is a similar case,” he added.

“I am a big fan of Virat Kohli. I support the Indian team because of Kohli. Hoisting of Indian flag on the rooftop of my house only shows my love for the Indian cricketer,” Draz had said.