Pakistan fans are outraged by Bhogle’s comments about World Cup participation. Pakistan’s participation in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 was formally confirmed in a press release published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, after getting authorisation from the Government of Pakistan. Soon after, there were a slew of positive and negative replies on social media.
Among the comments, it was the seemingly benign words of renowned analyst Harsha Bhogle that sparked a firestorm, leaving Pakistan fans enraged and demanding recognition for their team’s participation in the mega-event.
Bhogle, famed for his astute analysis and commentary, tweeted, “Forget the defiant statements, the grand pronouncements, Pakistan was always going to come to the World Cup.” We were aware of this two months ago. That is also how their players would have preferred it.”
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However, Pakistan cricket supporters saw Bhogle’s statements as disrespectful. His statement sparked a flood of criticism. Pakistan fans, who were already feeling neglected on the international scene, saw Bhogle’s statements as an insult to their team’s ethics.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a press release in which it emphasised its firm commitment in keeping sports and politics separate. The India-Pakistan match in Ahmedabad, which was initially scheduled for October 15, has also been pushed back to October 14 due to security concerns. The ICC World Cup 2023 will be held in India from October 5 to November 19.
