Since the Pulwama attack, fans, former cricketers and politicians have urged Team India to boycott the World Cup match against Pakistan.
However, a Pakistan cricket fan Adil Taj, who sang the Indian national anthem during the clash between two arch rivals in the Asia Cup, has urged every Indian cricket fan to not boycott the match and let it take place as scheduled.
He said, “After the Pulwama incident many have said that India should boycott Pakistan in World Cup match, however, nothing will happen even if you boycott a cricket match. In UAE, Pakistanis and Indians are still sharing the old bond after the Pulwama incident.
“It is because of cricket that India had toured Pakistan in 2004 and 2006, and if you ask those Indian players, they will tell you how much respect and love they received from Pakistan. Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar have many times told on record that they receive more love from India than Pakistan.”
He further added, “Cricketers and cricket fans have always shared a good bond. In Shahid Afridi’s house, you will still find a Sachin Tendulkar signed Indian team jersey framed. After Shahid Afridi’s retirement, even Virat Kohli had gifted him his Indian team jersey on which the current Indian players have signed and Virat Kohli wrote, ‘It was always a pleasure playing against you Shahid bhai’.
“Virat Kohli also gifted Shahid Afridi a bat which he could donate to the Shahid Afridi foundation. There are many such examples which prove that cricketers share a very loving bond with each other.
“So please do not boycott this match. The match should happen as per schedule. It is a much-awaited match. It is the mother of all matches. Even ICC director had mentioned how they received 400,000 ticket applications for Pakistan and India match especially after knowing that the stadium is only a 25,000 seater.”
#WATCH: Pakistani cricket fan Adil Taj who sang the Indian national anthem during Indo-Pak Asia Cup match in 2018 on India-Pak clash in World Cup 2019. pic.twitter.com/j4lBrkALZJ
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2019