Indian cricketers join hands against Afridi over Kashmir tweet
What's the story
In the two days since Shahid Afridi made a tweet on Kashmir, several of his Indian peers have hit back at the former Pakistani cricket captain. Suresh Raina, Mohd Kaif, Virat Kohli and even Kapil Dev and Sachin Tendulkar waded into the war of words. However, Afridi has remained firm on his stand on the "appalling and worrisome situation in the Indian Occupied Kashmir."
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The tweet that started the war of words
It began with a tweet by Afridi on Tuesday: "Innocents being shot down by oppressive regime to clamp voice of self-determination & independence. Wonder where is @UN & other int bodies & why aren't they making efforts to stop this bloodshed?" In 2016, he had thanked "people who came and supported us from Pakistan and Kashmir" after a match with Australia in Mohali.
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Some of the first reactions were from Kohli and Gambhir
Reacting to the comment, Kohli told news channels: "Unless I have total knowledge of the issues, I don't engage in it. But definitely, it goes without saying that your priorities stay with your nation and anything that opposes it, you oppose it as well." "Afridi is only looking for @UN which in his retarded dictionary means "UNDER NINTEEN" his age bracket," posted Gautam Gambhir.
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Kaif reminds Afridi why Pakistan is banned from IPL
There was more coming for Afridi. "'Paisa bolta hai (money talks).' Can't imagine Afridi making these comments if Pakistani players were still playing in the IPL," tweeted Kaif. "What's needed to be condemned foremost is the reason because of which Pakistani players are not allowed to play in the IPL - infiltration of terrorists from Pakistan and Pakistan's support to separatists," he added.
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The legends slam the former Pakistani cricket captain
Raina invoked his Kashmiri origins: "Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so. I hope @SAfridiOfficial asks Pakistan Army to stop terrorism and proxy war in our Kashmir." Tendulkar commented, "We have got capable people to run our country. No outsider needs to tell us what we need to do." Dev said it's best "not to react to certain people."
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Lyricist Javed Akhtar wades into the war
Lyricist Javed Akhtar commented too: "Dear Mr Afridi, since you want to see a peaceful JK sans any human rights violations could you please see to it that Pak terrorists stop infiltrations n Pak army stops supporting the separatists by closing down the training camps."
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However, Afridi made another tweet asserting his views
We respect all. And this is an example as sportsman. But when it comes to human rights we expect the same for our innocent Kashmiris. pic.twitter.com/DT5aF1wX8P
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) April 3, 2018