Indian Cricket Team Takes The Knee For Black Lives Matter, Slammed For Silence On Bangladeshi Hindus

Moments before the T20 World Cup 2021 clash between Indian and Pakistani teams began in Dubai on Sunday, the Indian cricket team took the knee in support of Black Lives Matter movement.

Sportspersons across the world have been taking the knee in support of the movement against racism. The movement began after the death of George Floyd, an African-American, at the hands of a cop in Minneapolis in Unites States.

Sunday was the first time that the Indian team made the gesture. The Pakistani team showed its support to the cause by holding their right hand to their heart.

A day earlier, it was the England and West Indies team that did it.

In the Sunday match, the Pakistani team beat the Indian team by 10 wickets. This was the first time that India lost to the Pakistani team in either ODI or T20 World Cup games.

While there is expected anger among cricket fans in India, many are now questioning the ‘wokeism’ that the team chose to indulge in.

Many are also slamming the team for ignoring the recent atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh and instead lending their voice to a cause that concerns India much less.

Social activist Sanjeev Newar asked why the team held no remembrance for the attacks on Bangladeshi Hindus “that happened much closer, much recently, and to your own family”.

Commentator-journalist Atul Mishra taunted the team, saying “of course Hindus in Bangladesh are non-entities for our Cricketing elites”.

A Twitter user asked why death of a black man was being remembered by the team after a year when the attack on Hindus in Bangladesh that is recent and continuing, is being ignored.

Many commented on team captain Virat Kohli’s recent tweet promoting a social media platform, asking why he showed no solidarity with Bangladeshi Hindus.

“Black lives matter but Bangladeshi Hindu lives don’t!”, commented one user.

Another user said she isn’t against the gesture of support for Black Lives Matter, but the one “next-door” is a more urgent cause.