New Delhi – A torrent of social media abuse was geared toward India’s solely Muslim participant, bowler Mohammed Shami, after his aspect have been thrashed by archrival Pakistan at cricket’s T20 World Cup.
Violence in opposition to Muslims was additionally reported after the emphatic 10-wicket win on Sunday, Pakistan’s first in opposition to India at any World Cup.
Cricket clashes between Hindu-majority India and Muslim Pakistan incessantly heighten tensions between the neighbors, who’ve fought three wars since their independence in 1947.
The 31-year-old Shami turned the primary goal after the defeat in Dubai, despite the fact that India captain Virat Kohli acknowledged that his aspect had been “outplayed.”
1000’s of vitriolic messages have been left on social media, together with Shami’s Instagram account, calling him a traitor and alleging he had taken cash to throw the sport.
However a number of Indian cricket legends, followers and politicians additionally spoke out in opposition to the hate onslaught and urged assist for him.
“The web assault on Mohammad Shami is surprising and we stand by him. He’s a champion and anybody who wears the India cap has India of their hearts excess of any on-line mob,” mentioned former Check participant Virender Sehwag.
“We assist each one that represents Workforce India,” mentioned batting legend Sachin Tendulkar. Shami “is a dedicated, world-class bowler. He had an off day like every other sportsperson can have.”
Omar Abdullah, a former chief minister of the Muslim-majority area of Kashmir, known as on Indian gamers to reject the hate messages simply as they’d backed the Black Lives Matter motion.
“Your BLM knee-taking counts for nothing in the event you can’t get up to your teammate who’s being horribly abused and trolled,” Abdullah mentioned on Twitter.
“Ignore the haters, most of India’s grateful to your effort,” mentioned one other supporter on Instagram.
Folks set off celebratory gunfire within the Pakistani cities of Islamabad and Karachi after the well-known win, whereas lots of ignited firecrackers in Indian Kashmir, the place troops are preventing an insurgency.
Gautam Gambhir, a former India take a look at cricketer who has develop into an MP for the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Occasion, mentioned it was “shameful” that individuals have been celebrating Pakistan’s win.
And in Punjab state college students from Kashmir mentioned they have been crushed up.
A scholar at a expertise institute in Sangrur mentioned dozens of males armed with hockey sticks and batons attacked them as they watched the closing phases of the sport.
“They entered our room, switched off the lights and beat us. They destroyed our laptops,” the coed informed AFP, talking on situation of anonymity due to fears of extra bother.
“We’re protected now and we have now assist from our faculty. However we didn’t anticipate this in any respect. We’re Indians.”
The match additionally sparked violence in neighbouring Bangladesh. Two Pakistan supporters have been crushed by India followers as they celebrated the win in a single southern district, media stories mentioned.
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