New Delhi:
Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar responded to former India captain Sourav Ganguly’s clarification on Twitter on his former team mate’s statement, saying his remarks were not against the cricket legend and were general in nature. “A lot of people in the media is trying to put my statement against sachin s when I said “I want the World Cupâ€. My response has got nothing to do with his statement, nor is my statement against his .. he is, has been and will be one of my best friends for last 25 years,†Ganguly had earlier tweeted.
A lot of people in the media is trying to put my statement against sachin s when I said “I want the World Cupâ€My response has got nothing to do with his statement, nor is my statement against his .. he is, has been and will be one of my best friends for last 25 years @sachin_rt
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) February 24, 2019
In reply, Tendulkar said: “Never felt the need for you to justify. Strongly believe that all of us want what’s best for our nation.â€
Never felt the need for you to justify. Strongly believe that all of us want what’s best for our nation. https://t.co/zUZYBVlCdh
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 24, 2019
The fall-out of the Pulwama terror attack which killed 40 CRPF jawans is hitting the game of cricket hard, with several players and users on social media calling for the boycott of the India vs Pakistan ICC Cricket World Cup encounter in Manchester on June 16. Tendulkar had earlier tweeted out a statement which said: “India has always come up trumps against Pakistan in the World Cup. Time to beat them once again. Would personally hate to give them two points and help them in the tournament. Having said that, for me India always comes first. Whatever my country decides, I will back that decision with all my heart.â€
Ganguly, who has advocated a strong position against Pakistan and has called for cutting off all sporting ties with the country in the wake of the terror attack, has responded to Tendulkar’s comment stating, “He wants two points against Pakistan, I want the World Cup. Whichever way you look at it,†Ganguly.
Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar want Indo-Pak clash to happen. On the other hand, Harbhajan Singh, Ganguly, and Mohammad Azharuddin are against the idea of the game. Gavaskar, in an interaction with India Today TV channel, said the aim was to beat Pakistan in the field and not give them two points. “India decide not to play Pakistan in the World Cup, who wins? Pakistan will get two points. We have beaten them every time in World Cups. We can play them and beat them and make sure they don't reach the semi-finals. Not playing bilateral series vs Pakistan hurts them. I know India are strong enough to qualify by not playing Pakistan. Not playing bilaterally hurts them. But it's a World Cup, it's two points...," Gavaskar told the channel.
Virat Kohli, before the pre-match press conference against Australia in the T20I in Vizag, said the team will adhere to the decision the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Government takes. "Our sincere condolences to the families of CRPF soldiers who lost their lives in Pulwama Attack. We stand by what the nation wants to do and what the BCCI decides to do. We will go by what the govt and the Board decides, we will respect that," Kohli stated.
