'Politicisation of gentleman's game': Pakistan cries foul over Indian team wearing Army-style caps

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday expressed disappointment at Indian cricket team's decision to don army caps (camouflage cap) during its match against Australia in Ranchi on Friday, Radio Pakistan reported. Qureshi while speaking to the media in Sukkur termed cricket in India as the “politicisation of the gentleman's game”. 

The Indian cricket team had worn the camouflage caps during its match against Australia on Friday "as a mark of tribute to the loss of lives in Pulwama terror attack and the armed forces".

Late on Friday, Pakistan Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to take action against the Indian team for "politicising" the game by donning army caps during their third One-Day International (ODI) match against Australia. 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had announced on Friday that the Indian team would be wearing camouflage caps during their third ODI match against Australia in Ranchi "as a mark of tribute to the loss of lives in Pulwama terror attack and the armed forces".

The BCCI has in fact also said that every year during any ODI game, the Indian team would be donning the army caps as a mark of respect for the armed forces. 

"It's just not cricket," Chaudhry tweeted late on Friday. By wearing the caps, the Indian team has politicised the Gentleman's Game, Dawn quoted the Information Minister as saying.

The minister urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to lodge a formal protest against India with the sport's world governing body ICC.

"And if the Indian team does not stop wearing the caps, the Pakistan team 'should (also) wear black bands to remind the World about Indian atrocities in (occupied) Kashmir," Chaudhry said.

Many in Pakistan, including journalists Owais Tohid and Mazhar Abbas, echoed similar views.

(With Inputs: IANS)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Pakistan wrote a mail to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday. 
• The Indian players had don camouflage cap in the third ODI against Australia to pay tribute to the soldiers. 
• The next game will be played at Mohali on March 10.