Who is Jarvo, the pitch-invading prankster banned from ICC World Cup 2023?

The infamous pitch intruder known as Jarvo, whose real name is Daniel Jarvis, recently made headlines once again when he invaded the field just before India's ODI World Cup 2023 opener against Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Sporting an Indian jersey with the number 69 written on it, Jarvo sprinted onto the field immediately after the national anthems of both teams concluded. Subsequently, he was escorted out of the stadium by security personnel.

Virat Kohli talks to Jarvo 69 😂😂

Video by AAC follower @balax98 ✅ pic.twitter.com/GBbCYtQQEZ

— All About Cricket (@allaboutcric_) October 8, 2023

So, who exactly is Jarvo?

He is a British national who has gained notoriety for repeatedly intruding onto sports fields during events. Jarvo is a well-known figure on platforms like YouTube and X (formerly Twitter), and he describes himself as a comedian, filmmaker, and prankster.

He first attracted attention in 2021 when he disrupted Test matches during India's tour of England. During the second Test match, he donned an Indian jersey and casually walked alongside the visiting players on the cricket pitch.

JARVO is back 😂😭

India Matches and Jarvo love story continues 🔥😂#INDvsAUS #IndVAus #AUSvsIND #AUSvIND #ODIWorldCup2023 #ICCWorldCup2023 #CWC23pic.twitter.com/J5g05mrXDd

— Babar Azam Fan (@AhtashamRiaz22) October 8, 2023

Days later, he entered the field during the second Test match, this time wearing complete cricket gear, including a helmet, pads, and gloves.

Jarvo best entry in world cricket 🔥😅 pic.twitter.com/QbP1sdH8Ph

— Vishal Singh (@vishal070393) October 1, 2023

Jarvo shot to fame when he claimed to be responsible for the inappropriate noises during an FA match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers, causing embarrassment to Gary Linekar, who was part of the BBC commentary panel.

ICC response

• Hours after Jarvo was forcibly removed from the stadium by security personnel, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced their decision to ban him from attending any further matches of the World Cup.

• "The individual in question has been banned from attending any more games at the event, and the matter is now in the hands of Indian authorities," an ICC spokesperson was quoted as saying by PTI.

• However, what left fans puzzled was how Jarvo managed to gain access to VIP areas before matches. This also raises concerns about the security arrangements put in place by the stadium staff, which could potentially pose a risk to the safety of the players.

• This incident marked the third time that Jarvo was able to breach security and get close to Indian players during an international match.