New Delhi: India’s loss against England in Sunday’s Cricket World Cup 2019 match took on a political colour Monday as Union Minister Giriraj Singh lashed out at Kashmiri leaders Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti over their comments about the match.
The contest was the Indian ODI team’s first in its new blue and orange “away” jersey. After England won Sunday’s match by 31 runs, former Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Twitter that the new uniform may be responsible for India’s defeat.
“Call me superstitious but I’d say it’s the jersey that ended India’s winning streak in the #ICCWorldCup2019,” she tweeted.
Meanwhile, Abdullah, another former chief minister, criticised India’s batting performance. “Would the batting be as listless if our place in the semifinals was at stake here rather than England’s & Pakistan’s? #CWC19,” he tweeted.
Sunday’s match diminished Pakistan’s shot at entering the semifinals, while India is almost certain to reach the next stage thanks to an undefeated streak until this weekend.
Giriraj Singh, known for his off-the-cuff remarks, subsequently took to Twitter to hint that Abdullah and Mufti’s criticism stemmed from disappointment about Pakistan’s prospects.
“Omar Abdullah aur Mehbooba Mufti Bharat ki haar se jitna dukhi nahi hai utna Pakistan ke semi-final ki race se bahar hone se dukhi hai? Mauke par inka Pakistan prem jaagh uthata hai? (Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti are not as upset about India’s loss as they are about Pakistan not making it to the semifinals? Their Pakistan love awakens during such time?)”
A new jersey
India’s new jersey has come under criticism from the opposition, while becoming a major talking point on social media.
Jersey with a BIG THAPPA of China on it strategically placed above India.
That's how I see it. pic.twitter.com/9MdwJegpR1
— Zainab Sikander Siddiqui (@zainabsikander) June 27, 2019
Politicians discussing the colours of Team India jersey rather than the basic public necessities. Infrastructure, electricity, roads, water, economy, these don’t matter, coz they don’t suit a political narrative, happens only in India #BleedOrange
— Radio Mohan (@isamartharya) June 28, 2019
For instance, Abu Asim Azmi of the Samajwadi Party said last Wednesday that the Tricolour would have been a more appropriate theme for the uniform.
“If you give the colour of the flag to the team then I think it’s okay. But if everything has to be saffron then it’s unfair and wrong. The public should oppose this,” he added.
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I am not superstitious, but even I don’t like this new colour.