New Delhi, March 3 Trinamool Congress MP and former cricketer Kirti Azad criticized Indian cricket team captain Suryakumar Yadav and ICC chairman Jay Shah on Tuesday for taking the T20 World Cup trophy to a temple in Ahmedabad while offering prayers there.
Speaking to the media at the Parliament complex, Azad said that sports has no religion and players and supporters come from all religious groups.
"People were excited about Team India's victory. They included Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians... I played for my country. Any sport or athlete does not belong to a particular religion or caste. Our players made India win. Everyone was involved," said Azad, an ex-cricketer who was part of the 1983 World Cup-winning team.
"We have Sanju Samson in the team. He was playing as a cricketer, not as a Christian. The runs he scored were for the Indian team, not for any religion... Therefore, as a player, it is the Indian team that has won. For the people of India. This is a matter of great pride," he said.
The TMC leader made similar remarks in a post on X on Monday, saying the winning team represented India, "not Suryakumar Yadav's or Jay Shah's family".
Tariq Anwar of the Congress backed Azad. "I totally agree. It is not our tradition to bring trophies to temples or mosques; this sets a wrong trend," he said.
Congress MP Jebi Mather, however, said India's World Cup win should not be "diluted" with such remarks.
"Team India's victory was spectacular, and we all took pride in it. Let us not dilute the greatness of that victory," she said.
In his post on X on Monday night, a day after the India-New Zealand final, Azad said: "SHAME ON TEAM INDIA. When we won the World Cup under Kapil Dev in 1983, we had Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians in the team. We brought the trophy to our religious birthplace, our motherland, India, Bharat, Hindustan," he said.
"Why is the Indian cricket trophy being dragged? Why NOT a Mosque? Why NOT a Church? Why NOT a Gurudwara? This team represents INDIA — not Surya Kumar Yadav's or Jay Shah's Family," Azad said.
"(Mohammed) Siraj never paraded it at a Mosque. Sanju (Samson) never took it to a Church. Latter had a major part to play and was man of the tournament. The Trophy Belongs to 1.4 billion Indians of every faith — NOT ONE RELIGION'S VICTORY LAP!" he posted.
India lifted the ICC Men's T20 World Cup trophy after defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, successfully defending the title and becoming the first team in the history of the tournament to retain the cup.