After losing out against Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy final by 180 runs, Times Now reporter on Monday was trying to get a view from Indian players in order to record their statements — to know why Men in Blue-led by Virat Kohli did not replicate hockey team to wear the black armbands – to express solidarity with the soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir.
It’s pertinent to note, the hockey team routed Pakistan by 7-1 on Sunday some 10 miles away from the Kennington Oval where cricket team met in the eight edition of the ICC Champions Trophy.
Using the hashtag ‘Cricketers forget Braves’ on micro-blogging site Twitter, Times Now posed a pertinent question that shouldn’t cricketers stand up against anti-national elements while asking Virat Kohli, could have taken a leaf out of hockey team — to show the solidarity, adding the match fee could’ve been donated to the cops.
“I won’t be answering, I am sorry. We are not allowed to [speak],” responded all-rounder Hardik Pandya to Times Now, before leaving the place in a car.
On the other side, Hardik Pandya played a blinder of an innings against Pakistan which saw him registering 43-ball 76 which including six towering sixes and four boundaries before a misunderstanding saw him trudging off the ground while swearing at Ravindra Jadeja, who was the culprit according to him.
“@hardikpandya7 refuses to take TIMES NOW question on why they didn’t copy hockey team and pay tribute to martyrs #CricketersForgetBraves,” Times Now tweeted.
Moreover, the 35-year-old Yuvraj Singh, who scored 22 off 31 balls against Pakistan in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy, didn’t respond before seemingly asking a security man to take control of the situation.
However, the reporter namely Jonathan kept repeating the question: ‘Yesterday, the Indian hockey team wore black armbands in solidarity with the dead soldiers in Kashmir. Do you think that was a good thing?’
“@YUVSTRONG12 refuses to take TIMES NOW question on why they didn’t copy hockey team and pay tribute to martyrs #CricketersForgetBraves,” Times Now added.
TIMES NOW asks – As appointed ambassadors for our Forces, shouldn't cricketers speak out against terror? #CricketersForgetBraves pic.twitter.com/FxXsVkws6h
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) June 19, 2017
TIMES NOW asks – Why do our players don the vardi when they cannot stand up for the interests of our Forces? #CricketersForgetBraves pic.twitter.com/K0XuqNcza1
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) June 19, 2017
.@hardikpandya7 refuses to take TIMES NOW question on why they didn't copy hockey team and pay tribute to martyrs #CricketersForgetBraves pic.twitter.com/tMjgwGBrN9
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) June 19, 2017
.@YUVSTRONG12 refuses to take TIMES NOW question on why they didn't copy hockey team and pay tribute to martyrs #CricketersForgetBraves pic.twitter.com/pFtrLB2etK
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) June 19, 2017