Former South African player, Herschelle Gibbs, arrived in Azad Kashmir to join Kashmir Premier League (KPL). He reached Muzaffarabad in Azad Jammu Kashmir on Saturday. He was presented the jersey by his team Overseas Warriors.
The participation of Herschelle Gibbs in the Kashmir Premier League gained international media attention after he called out BCCI for threatening and stopping him from participating in the KPL. A week ago, he had said that BCCI is stopping him from playing in the inaugural season of Kashmir Premier League (KPL) on Friday.
Welcome to Pakistan HerschelleGibbs! @hershybru Passionate Kashmiris are looking forward to witness a thriller at #KPLT20 pic.twitter.com/uNsv8t8wTP
— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) August 7, 2021
Sardar Masood Khan, President of AJK "I want to thank Herschelle Gibbs for taking on BCCI and not capitulating to their pressure" #KPLT20 #Cricket pic.twitter.com/pNSYCXHeCx
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) August 6, 2021
In a statement on Twitter, Gibbs said that BCCI is preventing him from playing the tournament due to political differences with Pakistan. The cricketer says BCCI is threatening him that it will ban his entry into India for any cricket-related work. He expressed his disappointment in the intimidating manner of the BCCI.
Read more: BCCI stopping, threatening me from playing Kashmir Premier League: Herschelle Gibbs
“Completely unnecessary of the @BCCI to bring their political agenda with Pakistan into the equation and trying to prevent me playing in the @kpl_20. Also threatening me by saying they won’t allow me entry into India for any cricket-related work. Ludicrous,” wrote Herschelle Gibbs in his tweet.
Gibbs accused BCCI secretary Jay Shah of threatening him. In an interview with Sports Kerala, he said that “It came from Mr. Shah. (The) the message was sent to Graeme smith who passed it on to me.”
Herschelle Gibbs arrives in Muzaffarbad 🔥
That is some statement from the former South Africa opener. The tagline #KheloAzadiSe serves the purpose 👏#KPL2021 pic.twitter.com/sKQjdd6KoG
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) August 7, 2021
While his tweet shows another attempt of India at politicizing the game of cricket, it also shows the ultra-aggressive and extremist disposition towards Pakistan and its stance on the Kashmir issue.
Read more: Pakistani guy returns wallet to Indian man in a thrilling Bollywood-style search
The social media comment of Gibbs triggered a heated debate between the Indian and Pakistani users on Twitter. Indian users lashed out at Gibbs for calling out BCCI. Another user stated that BCCI has every right to object and intervene in the matter as the entire Kashmir belongs to India and if Pakistan is conducting any sports event on Indian soil then BCCI has the right to take action.