BSF to protest Pak cricketer’s field antics at the Retreat

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 22

Pakistani cricketer Hassan Ali courted a controversy with his “provocative and disrespectful antics” towards India during the Retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border on Saturday evening. As the video of the incident went viral, Ali was trolled for his weird gestures on social media.

Irked over the “violation of the sanctity of the parade”, the BSF has decided to lodge a protest with their Pakistani counterparts. So far, the Pakistan Rangers haven’t put forth any objection to Ali’s act.

The ceremony is performed by the BSF on the Indian side and the Pakistan Rangers on their side and no civilian is ever allowed to intervene.

Ali, who along with the entire Pakistan cricket team visited the border to witness the Retreat ceremony, walked down the parade strip, replicating Pakistan Rangers’ style in the middle of the parade. After he reached the dead end of the Pakistan’s gate, he gestured towards the BSF soldiers and Indian spectators by patting his thighs and raising arms. He then enacted his wicket-taking celebratory move. No one from the Pakistan side cared to intervene. Later, a man in civilian clothes escorted him back.

Taking cognisance of the incident, JS Oberoi, BSF, DIG, said a formal protest would be lodged with the Pakistani authorities on Monday.

He said: “All this took place in the presence of Pakistan Rangers and their senior commanders. It is okay for the spectators to raise slogans, but no one is allowed to violate the sanctity of the parade. The Rangers should have stopped him from making provocative or aggressive gestures.”

Earlier, the comments on Kashmir issue by former Pakistani skipper Shahid Afridi have done no good to the relations between the two nations. Calling the international community to respond, Afridi had tried to defame India by commenting on the situation in Kashmir as “appalling and worrisome”.

The controversy 

Hassan Ali, who along with the entire Pakistan cricket team visited the Attari-Wagah border to witness the Retreat ceremony, walked down the parade strip, replicating Pakistan Rangers’ style in the middle of the parade. 

As he reached the dead end of the Pakistan’s gate, he gestured towards the BSF soldiers and Indian spectators by patting his thighs and raising arms. He then displayed his wicket-taking celebratory move.