The joint statement from the members of the 1983 World Cup-winning cricket team in support of the protesting wrestlers had a controversial twist to it late on Friday when Roger Binny, a prominent member of the triumphant team who is also the current president of the BCCI, distanced himself from it.
Binny, who became the BCCI chief in October 2022, said he was not a signatory to the statement on the wrestlers’ protest.
“Contrary to some media reports, I would like to clarify that I have not issued any statement regarding the current situation of the wrestlers’ protest,” Binny said through BCCI.
“I believe that the competent authorities are working on it to resolve the issue. As a former cricketer, I believe that sports should not be mixed with politics,” he added.
The former all-rounder swaying away from the joint statement is not totally unexpected given that the Board and its currently contracted players have remained silent on the issue even as some of the retired players, like Anil Kumble and Irfan Pathan, have shown solidarity with the grapplers.
According to PTI, Kirti Azad, who was part of the 1983 team and who is now a Trinamul Congress member, sought approval only from Kapil Dev, who captained the triumphant team, and Madan Lal before issuing the statement even though the ’83 batch includes the iconic Sunil Gavaskar and Mohinder Amarnath, among others.
The statement read: “We are distressed and disturbed at the unseemly visuals of our champion wrestlers being manhandled. We are also most concerned that they are thinking of dumping their hard-earned medals into river Ganga.
“Those medals have involved years of effort, sacrifice, determination, and grit and are not only their own but the nation’s pride and joy. We urge them not to take any hasty decision in this matter and also fervently hope that their grievances are heard and resolved quickly. Let the law of the land prevail,” the statement added.
Wrestlers, led by Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, have been demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh for alleged sexual exploitation of women grapplers. On May 28, Delhi Police had detained the wrestlers for violation of law and order.
The wrestlers also threatened to immerse their medals into the river Ganga in Haridwar as part of their protest, but later decided against it.
With inputs from PTI
