The call for boycotting India's World Cup cricket face-off with Pakistan took a different turn after controversial journalist Arnab Goswami chose to disagree with legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. On Friday, Sachin Tendulkar had opined that India should not forfeit its two points in the World Cup by choosing to boycott Pakistan.
However, Goswami, in his news show, chose to criticise the cricket God, saying Sachin was wrong in his opinion. "I don't believe in any gods. Sachin is 100 per cent wrong. Sachin Tendulkar, if he has any sense, should realise that he should be the first person to say don't play with Pakistan. And (Sunil) Gavaskar should be the second person to say we should not play with Pakistan. These people say we need two points. Both are damn wrong. I don't need two points. I want revenge for my martyrs. Understand? Sachin Tendulkar can take his two points and put it in the dustbin," Arnab Goswami can be heard saying in the 46-second video that has gone viral. Senior cricketer Gavaskar, too, was of the opinion that India should not attempt to boycott Pakistan in the World Cup match.
Reportedly, Goswami's stand on Sachin prompted two panelists—former AAP leader Ashutosh and political analyst Sudheendra Kulkarni—to walk out of the show in protest.
On Friday, Sachin, in a post on social media, had voiced his opinion regarding the widespread call to boycott India-Pakistan World Cup match to be played on June 16. "India has always come up trumps against Pakistan in World Cup. Time to beat them again. Would personally hate to give them 2 points & help them in tournament. For me India always comes first, so whatever my country decides, I'll back that decision with all my heart," Sachin had posted.
While Goswami was cautious enough to not use the word anti-national to refer to Sachin or Gavaskar, it is to be noted that the debate was trending under #ShameOnAntiNationals.
However, Goswami's choice of words for Sachin has not gone down well with his fans.
Former cricketer and India's 1983 world cup-winning team captain Kapil Dev had also commented on the controversy. "To play or not to play is something which does not have to be decided by people like us. It has to be decided by government. It's better if we don't give an opinion and leave it to government and concerned people. What they decide will be in interest of the nation. We'll do what they want," he had said Kapil Dev.