Furqan Bhat, a Jammu and Kashmir player, has been accused of "separatism" after being photographed wearing a Palestine flag on his helmet during a local cricket competition. Furqan Bhat has also been summoned for questioning by the J&K Police for wearing the Palestinian flag.
Videos and images of Furqan Bhat batting with a Palestine flag sticker on his helmet during a Jammu and Kashmir Champions League match went viral, drawing attention to his actions.
The incident happened on Wednesday during a Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Champions League cricket tournament match between JK11 Kings and Jammu Trailblazers.
Springing into action, the Jammu police have sought clarification from the cricketer and the tournament organizers. When police learned of the event, they apparently raced to the location, and the image went viral.
The Jammu and Kashmir Champions League has also been under police scrutiny since the event. In relation to the issue, league organizer Zahid Bhat is being questioned. According to reports, they have started looking into the illegal cricket league.
“One cricket player and organizer of the tournament has been called for questioning by J&K Police regarding the use of the Palestine flag on his helmet during a cricket match at a private tournament in Jammu,” the police statement read.
The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) has already distanced itself from the entire situation, stating that Furqan Bhat is not connected to the board and that the Jammu and Kashmir Champions competition is not an approved competition.
“The league is not recognized by JKCA,” said Brig. Anil Gupta (Retd), Member Administration of the JKCA, to IANS on Thursday.
Additionally, it has been verified that the competition in question is a privately run local league and is not connected to any national or international cricket organization. Players are prohibited from competing in unrecognized events by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and its affiliated state associations.
The police claim that no action has been taken thus far and that fact-checking and questioning are still proceeding. Only once the due diligence is completed will a future line of action be determined.
