WATCH: Virat Kohli asks fans to stay quiet during two-minute silence observed for Pulwama terror attack victims
India skipper Virat Kohli asked the fans to stay quiet during the two-minute silence that was observed to honour the victims of the Pulawama terror attack
Ahead of the first Twenty20 International between India and Australia at the Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Sunday, Indian skipper Virat Kohli asked the fans to stay quiet during the two-minute silence that was observed to honour the victims of the Pulawama terror attack.
Many sections of the crowd could be heard chanting loudly during the time when both team’s national anthems were played. This prompted the Indian captain to ask the crowd to remain silent as a period of silence was observed to pay respect to the martyred officials.
Peacefull movement ❤️#IndvsAusT20#INDvsAUS#teamindia 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/HtC9ovMprJ
— Jaiminsinh Rajput (@JaiminRajput11) February 25, 2019
Cricket fans on Twitter expressed anger at the behaviour of the crowd in the stadium.
Two minutes silence was to be kept for our brave soldiers who lost their lives in the Pulwama attack but our people really lack civic sense. Why were they shouting and cheering? #INDvAUS
— Kunzang Ongmu Bhutia (@kunzang02) February 24, 2019
Absolutely amazed at the number of people shouting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' in the middle of a minute's silence for the CRPF jawans martyred in the Pulawama attack. Yet another instance of blind jingoism defying logic. #INDvAUS
— Shayne Dias (@ShayneDias_) February 24, 2019
Look at these morons waving hands or looking in phone during 2min silence. And same people will lecture others on patriotism. #INDvAUS
— Sandy. (@ThatWickedGuy_) February 24, 2019
They called for 2-min silence for our army and we wave at the camera, shout slogans. Zero civic sense. Zero empathy. We are a bunch of hypocrites. #INDvAUS
— UnReliabareli (@NaanaKatekar) February 24, 2019
The players and the support staff paid homage to the Pulwama martyrs by donning black armbands.The crowd held banners to express their condolences to the CRPF men who lost their lives in the heinous Pulwama attack.Indian head coach Ravi Shastri along with batting coach Sanjay Bangar, bowling Coach Bharat Arun and other support staff were seen wearing the black armbands.
The BCCI has already announced a move to scrap the IPL opening ceremony and will be donating close to Rs 15 crore for the families of the martyred soldiers.The crowd present at the Vizag stadium chanted ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jay’ while remembering the martyred CRPF personnel.