KSCA removes photos of Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Inzamam-ul-Haq

As India’s relation with Pakistan go in the shambles in the wake of the suicide terror attack in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir that killed over 40 CRPF jawans, cricket too has taken a toll. Following the move by the iconic Cricket Club of India (CCI) that removed the portrait of former Pakistan captain Imran Khan, who is the country’s current prime minister, from the display, other state cricket associations have done the same. And now, Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has also followed suit.

The KSCA has removed the photographs of the iconic player from Pakistan along with those of his compatriots from the gallery of M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru where Imran had led Pakistan to a historic Test series win over India in 1987.

“We at Karnataka state cricket Association to show our solidarity and support to our armed forces; and to express our strong protest against the recent terrorist bombing at Pulwama, we have brought down all photographs of Pakistan cricketers including Imran Khan,” KSCA was quoted as saying by Timesnownews.com. Its secretary Sudhakar Rao said besides the photograph of Imran, those of former captains Wasim Akram and Inzamam-ul-Haq were also removed a few days ago.

Earlier, cricket bodies in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab along with authorities at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium also decided to remove the portrait of Imran who recently warned India of facing consequences if the latter executed an attack on Pakistan. In a televised address, Imran, who took over in August last year and promised to take two steps to peace if India took one, asked New Delhi to produce evidence that Islamabad has link with the Pulwama attack and promised to take action if it did.

This is in support of the country

“Country comes first. We removed the photos two days ago. This is in support of the country in such a sensitive situation. Not just KSCA, many other associations across the country are doing the same,” said Rao. “While a couple of photographs were taken during an ICC meeting here, some were shot whenever Pakistan played India at the Chinnaswamy,” Rao was quoted as saying.

While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reacted to the trend of removing portraits saying it was ‘regrettable’, there were also calls in India to boycott Pakistan in the upcoming ICC World Cup in England in May. The two teams will meet each other in Manchester on June 16.

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