India and West Indies came against each other during the first T20I at Eden Gardens and like always, the bell ringing ritual was performed before the game. It was very normal as it is happening since 2016 here. But what sparked controversy was the man who rang the bell.
Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir took Twitter to lash out at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for allowing Mohammad Azharuddin to ring the bell at Eden Gardens.
"India may have won today at Eden but I am sorry @bcci, CoA &CAB lost. Looks like the No Tolerance Policy against Corrupt takes a leave on Sundays! I know he was allowed to contest HCA polls but then this is shocking....The bell is ringing, hope the powers that be are listening," he wrote.
India may have won today at Eden but I am sorry @bcci, CoA &CAB lost. Looks like the No Tolerance Policy against Corrupt takes a leave on Sundays! I know he was allowed to contest HCA polls but then this is shocking....The bell is ringing, hope the powers that be are listening. pic.twitter.com/0HKbp2Bs9r
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) November 4, 2018
Azharuddin was named in match-fixing by Hansie Cronje and after many years of the fight in the court he was given clean chit. The Hyderabadi cricketer was banned from playing professional cricket for the rest of his life on December 5, 2000, after he was charged with fixing matches. But the Andhra Pradesh High Court had to strike down the lifetime ban imposed by BCCI.
While some supported Gambhir's words on Twitter and called him brave for calling out what he feels is wrong, others were upset by the tweet.
Here are the tweets from fans:
High court cleared him up
— Dr.Madhur Agrawal (@madhuragrawal22) November 5, 2018
Before that he was made MP from super honest party
BCCI was controlled by same party leaders
Case was not taken up to SC by grace of .....
He has been given clean chit by the SC . So why are you disrespecting a senior player ?
— Laupyam Pattnaik (@Laupyampattnaik) November 4, 2018
Are u targeting azhar?
— AYUSH PANDEY (@AYP1293) November 4, 2018
What has happened to you Gautam, u r disrespecting ur senior.
What is the reason for ur changed behaviour in past few months??
Let GG elaborate his views before making any desperate point
— प्रशांत पाटील (@prashant_pash46) November 4, 2018
Had great respect for you but this is uncalled for.. #unfollowing
— Shahnawaz (@iamshaah5) November 4, 2018
GG, you have disappointed me big time. Politics n all is fine but at least you must had respected the values of that game which gave you everything. #RespectYourSenior
— Berbatov (@bbtv9) November 4, 2018