ISLAMABAD: Indian Cricket Control Board (BCCI) under Hindutva BJP government dedicated the T20 World Cup trophy to Hindu beliefs and took the trophy to a Hindu temple in Indian Home Minister Amit Shah’s and his son Ajay Shah President International Cricket Council (ICC) hometown Ahmad Abad for display of the same.
Former Indian cricketer and now Trinamool Congress member parliament (MP) Kirti Azad criticized the move, saying that the winning team had Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians but the trophy was taken to the temple and that the Indian team should be ashamed of it.
After winning the trophy, Indian team captain Suryakumar Yadav, coach Gautam Gambhir and ICC Chairman Jay Shah visited a Hanuman temple in Ahmedabad. Kirti Azad shared a post on X and wrote, “Shame on Team India. We won the World Cup in 1983 under the captaincy of Kapil Dev, we had Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs in our team. We brought the trophy to our religious birthplace, our motherland, India, India. Why is the Indian cricket trophy being dragged away?” He further wrote, “Why not a mosque? Why not the church? Why not a Gurudwara? This team represents India — not Suryakumar Yadav or Jay Shah’s family! Siraj never displayed it in the mosque. Sanju never took it to church. This trophy belongs to 140 crore Indians of every religion. This is not a celebration of the victory of any one religion!”
Coach Gautam Gambhir expressed disappointment over Kirti Azad’s statement. Congress MP Tariq Anwar said, “Kirti Azad is absolutely right. I totally agree with what he has said. It has not been a tradition in our country to take the trophy to a temple or a mosque or any other place. This is the beginning of a wrong tradition.”
Mahant Ishwardas Maharaj of Hanuman Mandir in Ahmedabad said, “I want to say that this is related to our faith, faith and philosophy. But those who don’t understand it question it.” Union Minister Giriraj Singh said, “I don’t know who did this, but India is associated with Sanatanis. India is not identified with Christians and Muslims,” he said.
Reacting to this, Shiv Sena leader Krishna Hegde said, “It is not right to link it with religion. The Indian team has the freedom to take the trophy wherever they want. They don’t need permission from Kirti Azad. Kirti Azad should not try to divide communities by making such provocative speeches.”
Former India spin bowler and Aam Aadmi Party’s Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh said such questions should not be raised when the Indian captain and coach visit the temple. “Don’t listen to them. Look, keep sports and politics separate. You have faith, you can go to a temple, a gurudwara or go anywhere,” he said.
