Kapil Dev's absence from the India vs Australia ICC World Cup final has sparked controversy and criticism towards the event's organisers.
Kapil Dev
A commotion has emerged around the absence of former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev from the India vs Australia ICC World Cup final, leading to charges of political manipulation and garnering broad censure aimed at the event's coordinators, agency reports stated.
Disgruntled with the circumstances, Vijay Wadettiwar, the Maharashtra Leader of Opposition and Congress MLA cited evident political motivations for Kapil Dev's absence. "Politics permeates everything these days... In what way is cricket left? Additionally, politics was in play. Thus, Wadettiwar claimed, that Kapil ji (Dev) was not invited.
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Dev, himself had expressed disappointment at not receiving an invitation to the prestigious event. In an interview with a news channel, when questioned about his absence from the November 1 IND vs AUS match, he said, "I wasn't invited there. They didn't call me so I did not go. As simple as that. I wanted the whole '83 team to be there with me but I guess due to the fact that it's such a big event and people are so busy handling responsibilities, sometimes they forget."
Adding to the criticism, Sena UBT) leader Sanjay Raut flagged concerns and demanded an explanation from the Board Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding Dev's absence. Raut said that the move is a perceived insult to the cricketing icon and urged both organisations to clarify whether external pressure influenced the decision. He stated that it reflects poorly on India.
"India's legendary cricketer Kapil Dev was not invited to the World Cup final match. The cricket icon has been insulted brazenly, and India has been humiliated...What a big shame! BCCI, ICC should explain to the world whether they did so under pressure from the ruling party of India. They owe an explanation to the entire cricket world," he said.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh too joined the chorus of disapproval, condemning the organizers for the exclusion of Kapil Dev from the ICC World Cup final match. Ramesh said that the situation was inappropriate and highlighted Kapil Dev's outspoken nature and previous support for various causes, including his advocacy for women wrestlers.
"It is simply unacceptable and extremely petty that Kapil Dev was not invited by the cricket establishment for the World Cup final in Ahmedabad. Like Bedi, Kapil Dev is known to speak his mind, and he did come out openly in support of the agitating women wrestlers a few months back," Jairam Ramesh posted on X.
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