NEW DELHI: Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh have unleashed a social media storm by backing former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi's foundation in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
The two countries are bitter rivals and the move touched a raw nerve in India.
Afridi's appeal for donations to help people affected by the deadly virus in Pakistan has had overwhelming support from leading cricketers.
Harbhajan urged people to contribute in a video message, and called on other cricketers in the two countries to make similar appeals.
"These are testing times, it's time to look out for each other," Yuvraj wrote on Twitter in a call for funds.
While Afridi thanked the two, Indian Twitter users reacted with fury at the support for a rival player who has been a vocal critic of India's handling of the Kashmir dispute.
"Do you have any sense?" wrote one Twitter user. "Lost respect" for Harbhajan Singh, added another. "Sorry guys you lost it."
India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral cricket series since 2012-2013 and have seen a new peak in tensions over Kashmir, which has been at the centre of two wars between the neighbours since 1947.
Kashmir has been divided between the two since their independence seven decades ago and India frequently accuses Pakistan of organising "terrorism" on its side of the border.
World Cup-winning batsman Yuvraj, who made a return from cancer before finally retiring last year, has also raised money to fight coronavirus through his 'YouWeCan' foundation.
India, which has been under a 21-day lockdown since March 24, has so far confirmed more than 1,600 coronavirus cases and 38 deaths.
Indian cricketers face backlash for supporting Pakistan virus fund
https://arab.news/p6ntw
Indian cricketers face backlash for supporting Pakistan virus fund
- Former Pakistan captain Afridi's appeal for donations to help people affected by the deadly virus
- Two countries are bitter rivals and the move touched a raw nerve in India
Pakistan expresses solidarity with Switzerland as ski resort explosion kills 40, injures 100
- Explosion occurred at crowded bar in upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana during New Year’s Eve party
- Swiss authorities say they are still investigating the cause of the explosion, which appears to be an accident
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed solidarity with Switzerland after an explosion at the bar of a ski resort in the country killed at least 40 people and injured 100.
The explosion occurred at a crowded bar during a New Year’s Eve party in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana on Wednesday night, Swiss authorities said. The fire broke out at 1.30 a.m. (0030 GMT) in a bar called “Le Constellation” in southwestern Switzerland.
Swiss authorities say they are still investigating the cause of the blast, saying it appears to be an accident.
“Deeply saddened to learn of the tragic fire incident at a ski resort in Switzerland on New Year night,” Sharif wrote on social media platform X.
“Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives and pray for the early recovery of the injured. We stand in solidarity with the Swiss Government and the people of Switzerland at this difficult time.”
https://x.com/CMShehbaz/status/2006677928663462347
Frederic Gisler, the head of police of Valais canton, said patients had been dispatched to hospitals in Sion, Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich.
“Our count is about 100 injured, most seriously, and unfortunately tens of people are presumed dead,” he was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said fireworks may have caused the explosion.
“It seems to have been an accident caused by a fire, by some explosion, by some firecracker thrown during New Year’s celebrations,” he told Italy’s Sky TG24 tv channel.
