AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday launched yet another attack on the government over the India-Pakistan cricket match scheduled to be played in Dubai on Sunday. While matches between India and Pakistan is usually a much-awaited affair, it isn't the case this time around. Instead, the chatter is mostly around boycotting the match, and slamming BCCI to go ahead with the contest.
The protest has been over the heinous Pahalgam attack earlier this year, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. In retaliation, Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor targeting terrorist base in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This further intensified the tension between the two countries and almost snowballed into a war-like situation before a ceasefire was announced.
Taking a jab at the government, Owaisi while addressing a gathering in Hyderabad as quoted by ANI said: "My question to the Chief Minister of Assam, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, and all of them is that you don't have the power to refuse to play a cricket match against Pakistan which asked for the religion of our 26 citizens in Pahalgam and shot them.
"We ask the Prime Minister, when you said that blood and water cannot flow together, dialogue and terrorism cannot happen together, then how much money will the BCCI get from one cricket match, Rs 2000 crore, Rs 3000 crore? Is the value of the lives of our 26 citizens more than the money? This is what the BJP should tell. We stood with those 26 citizens yesterday as well, we stand with them today, and we will stand with them tomorrow as well."
Indian dressing room on boycott sentiments
India's Dutch fielding coach Ryan ten Doeschate on Saturday said that India-Pakistan boycott sentiments remain a sensitive issue but the players are strictly following the directives of the BCCI and the Indian government.
"It is a very sensitive issue. Players feel the emotion and sentiments of the public. This is what we have discussed in the team meetings. Players are here to play cricket. We are following government instructions," the former Netherlands cricketer and India support staff member said.
"Our thing is you separate sports and politics. I understand the sentiment but we are following directive of BCCI and government. Knowing this will happen was the most frustrating part. Gauti's (head coach Gautam Gambhir) message is to not focus on things not in your control. Message is to focus on cricket," he said.
-with PTI inputs
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