Ahmadabad, A pro-Palestinian protester in India broke through security cordons to invade the pitch at the ICC World Cup final on Sunday, stopping play briefly while he hugged superstar batsman Virat Kohli.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the incident occurred in the 14th over of India’s innings.

Wearing a face mask in the colours of the Palestinian flag and a T-shirt with the slogans “Stop Bombing Palestine” and “Free Palestine”, the unnamed young protester ran onto the pitch in the 132,000-seat mega-stadium in India’s western city of Ahmedabad.

The protester ran up to Kohli and slung his arm around the shoulders of the batsman, who then pivoted in an attempt to distance himself from him.

He was escorted off the pitch by security officers, and play swiftly resumed. India Today, the young man was “also carrying a rainbow flag” and was later taken to the Chandkheda Police station.

He said that his name was John and he was from Australia. He said that he entered the pitch to meet Kohli, adding that he “supported Palestine”. KMS—11K