Pulwama effect: 13 photos of Pakistani cricketers removed from HPCA stadium in Dharamsala

The decision was taken in the wake of Pulwama terrorist attacks, held on February 14, which took the precious lives of 40 CRPF personnel

Following the footsteps of Cricket Club in India (CCI) and Punjab Cricket Association (PCA), the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) removed thirteen photos of Pakistani cricketers, including Imran Khan and Wasim Akram that were hung inside the international cricket stadium in Dharamsala.

The decision was taken in the wake of Pulwama terrorist attacks, held on February 14, which took the precious lives of 40 CRPF personnel. The officials said most of the removed photos were of the warm-up tie between Pakistan and India.

“We have decided to remove all the photos of Pakistani players from our stadium to express solidarity with the families of CRPF martyred troopers in Pulwama attack,” HPCA stadium Manager Col H.S. Manhas told reporters.

The HPCA showpiece stadium figured first on the international cricket map in 2005 when it hosted a warm-up tie between the touring Pakistan team and the Indian Board President's XI. The removed photos included those of Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar and Javed Miandad.

Apart from HPCA, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), on Wednesday, took down the photographs of Pakistani cricketers from the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru. The cricket body said that "to show our solidarity and support to our armed forces and to express our strong protest against the recent terrorist bombing at Pulwama, we have brought down all photographs of Pakistan cricketers including Imran Khan".

Earlier on February 17, the Cricket Club of India removed the portrait of Pakistan’s former captain and current Prime Minister Imran Khan from its premises. The same day, PCA removed the photographs of Pakistani cricketers from various points inside the Mohali stadium.

There were at least 15 photos of Pakistani cricketers inside the Mohali stadium and Pakistan’s present Prime Minister Imran Khan is one among the Pakistani cricketers whose photographs have been removed.

The unfortunate Pulwama terrorist attack

On February 14, at least 40 CRPF paramilitary troopers were killed in a terror attack while several others are battling for their lives following what is being termed as the deadliest terrorist strike in three decades in Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan-based terror organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad has claimed responsibility for it.