CCI covers Imran Khan’s portrait in its restaurant

In the wake of the dastardly attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district, the prestigious Cricket Club of India (CCI) has covered a portrait of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, in a unique way of protest.  At least 44 CRPF personnel lost their lives on Thursday after an SUV loaded with explosives rammed into a truck carrying the soldiers.

Ever since the heart-wrenching incident took place, the condolence messages have been pouring in for the family of the deceased CRPF soldiers. The whole world is condemning the attack from Pakistan-based Islamist militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). The cricketing fraternity has also not remained behind as the likes of Virat Kohli, VVS Laxman, Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Hardik Pandya and others condemned the cowardly attack and paid tributes to the martyrs.

The Indian government has already started taking the steps to boycott Pakistan from every possible sector. On Saturday, the government hiked the customs duty on all goods imported from Pakistan to 200% with immediate effect, a day after it revoked the most favoured nation (MFN) status that it had given its neighbour in 1996. The general public is also showing all it can to protest the attack and CCI has also followed suit.

The entire CCI premises, including its restaurant, adorn portraits of the greatest cricketers across eras and from all nations. Imran, who led Pakistan to their first and only World Cup title till date, also has a portrait of himself in the club. However, on Saturday, the CCI decided to cover it.

CCI President Premal Udani confirmed the news according to the NDTV, saying, “See, CCI is a sports-club and we have photographs of past and present cricketers from all countries. We wanted to show, in our way – displeasure – on whatever is happening right now. It is a mark of protest. We have covered it as of now but can’t say right now if we would take it down.”

Big blow to bilateral series

The latest attack, nonetheless, is bound to deteriorate the bilateral relations between the two countries even more. Both the countries have not played a full-fledged Test series since 2007 due to political tensions and India are unlikely to resume the bilateral ties with their arch-rivals any time soon. Both the countries have played against each other only in ICC tournaments or the Asia Cup.

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