New Delhi
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has questioned the cancellation of the cricket match played between India and Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) on Sunday after protests across the country. He has said that politics should not be confused in sports. Athawale told ‘ANI’, “There is no need to drag politics in sports. If the match was in India, the matter would have been serious. But the match is in England. We have defeated Pakistan in war. We have defeated their cricket team as well. So the opposition should not drag politics in it.”
Referring to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, Athawale accepted the national spirit, but stated the difference between terrorist activities and sports events. He added, “India vs Pakistan match was to be held in England (WCL). It is true that the terrorists attacked in Pahalgam and after that the terrorist camps were deactivated… but the match case is different.”
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi welcomed the World Championship of Legends (WCL) on Sunday to cancel the India-Pakistan match and described it as a victory of mass sentiments of the country in view of the recent terrorist incidents. In a post on social media platform X, Chaturvedi wrote, “The mass voice of the country can shake the mountains. Thanks to all those who have taken a tough stance and supported my call to cancel the match, especially after Indo-Pak cricket relations, especially after Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor. This morning, WCL confirmed the cancellation of this high-profile match and apologized for hurting the sentiments of the public and Indian cricket veterans.
