A flood of hateful messages are posted on social media platforms, focusing on Indian cricketer Arshdeep Singh accusing him of being as a traitor and linking him to the Khalistan Separatist Movement.
A flood of abuse on the internet has engulfed Indian cricketer Arshdeep Singh following the way the ball was thrown out of his hand against Pakistan and a lot of the abuse focussed on the fact his family is part of an ethnic group known as the Sikh minority.
Singh did not take advantage of a simple but crucial opportunity in the final phases of the arch-rivals’ thrilling Asia Cup clash on Sunday that was won by Pakistan in Dubai in the final over in which the 23-year-old was bowling.
Singh’s Wikipedia entry was briefy changed to connect him to Khalistan Sikh separatist movement. Khalistan Sikh separatist movement, which is said to have prompted officials from the Indian authorities to summon senior executives who were part of open-edit’s online dictionary.
“He is a Khalistani and has secret ties with Pakistan,” according to one user on Twitter.
After the match, the star Indian athlete Virat Kohli was supportive of Singh and said the “anyone can make a mistake”. The hashtag #IndiaWithArshdeep, which was in support of the player’s young age was popular on Twitter.
Religion is being attacked?
It’s not the first time cricketers from the Hindu minority of India have had to deal with such attacks.
The previous year Muslim footballer Mohammed Shami became a target of violence following the time India was defeated by Pakistan during the T20 World Cup.
Many hateful messages were posted on social media including Shami’s Instagram account accusing him of being as a traitor and saying that he took money to play.
Kohli as the India captain at the time, also strongly was a strong supporter of Shami and said: “Attacking someone over their religion is the most pathetic thing that a human being can do.”
India close to leaving Asia Cup
It was the Super Four match on Sunday was the second time India and Pakistan have played each during this year’s Asia Cup.
India had a win in the first match but they were beaten in the second game, which was crucial.
The previous day, Sri Lanka produced an incredible run chase that saw them defeat India with six wickets. They left their adversaries in a state of shock after their early departure in the Asia Cup — a match that was a spectacle of supporters abuse Arshdeep.
If Pakistan defeat Afghanistan this Wednesday they will play Sri Lanka in Sunday’s final and beat their arch-rivals India by doing so.
Singh played the final ball in both matches, and received a torrent of online abuse following his falling Asif Ali in the 18th over of Pakistan.
Ali then went on to take a game-winning 16 off just eight balls but the sipper Rohit Sharma claimed that the 23-year-old was unaffected.
“Yes, he was himself disappointed because it was a catch that could have been taken but again if you saw his confidence when he came and bowled that last over… he is a confident lad.”
Rohit and India both have not had the best recent results in international tournaments They are being pressured to perform in the T20 World Cup in Australia between October and November winning it just once in the first tournament.
