Former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh has said that he will always remain an Indian after an unprecedented social media campaign was launched against him and his former India teammate Harbhajan Singh for recording video messages in support of a charity run by former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi. Angry Hindutva fanatics had trended hashtag #ShameOnYuviBhajji on Twitter on Tuesday.
Reacting to the criticism, Yuvraj took to Twitter to issue a clarification saying that he remained ‘an Indian’ adding that he will ‘always bleed blue.’ Yuvraj said, “I really don’t understand how a msg to help the most vulnerable people gets blown out of proportion! All I tried to achieve through that message was to help people in our own respective countries by providing healthcare, my intention was not to hurt anyone’s feelings. I’m an Indian and I will always bleed blue and will always stand for humanity. Jai Hind,”
— yuvraj singh (@YUVSTRONG12) April 1, 2020
In his video message to help Shahid Afridi’s foundation in its fight against coronavirus, Harbhajan had said, “The world is passing through extremely testing and unprecedented times.Let’s do our bit to help @SAfridiOfficial @SAFoundationN doing gr8 work plz join hands with them nd contribute what ever u can http://donatekarona.com for covid19 @wasimakramlive @YUVSTRONG12 @shoaib100mph.”
The world is passing through extremely testing and unprecedented times.Let’s do our bit to help @SAfridiOfficial @SAFoundationN doing gr8 work plz join hands with them nd contribute what ever u can https://t.co/t9OvfEPp79 for covid19 @wasimakramlive @YUVSTRONG12 @shoaib100mph pic.twitter.com/sB2fxCAQqY
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) March 29, 2020
Yuvraj too had posted his own video in support of Shahid Afridi.
These are testing times, it’s time to lookout for each other specially the ones who are lesser fortunate. Lets do our bit, I am supporting @SAfridiOfficial & @SAFoundationN in this noble initiative of covid19. Pls donate on https://t.co/yHtpolQbMx #StayHome @harbhajan_singh pic.twitter.com/HfKPABZ6Wh
— yuvraj singh (@YUVSTRONG12) March 31, 2020
Afridi had thanked both Harbhajan and Yuvraj for their video messages. He had written on Twitter, “Thank you for all you support-both yourself & my brother @harbhajan_singh are huge pillars of support; this bond we have shows love & peace transgresses borders when it comes to humanity especially. Best wishes to you with your noble endeavours with @YOUWECAN #DonateKaroNa.”
Thank you for all you support-both yourself & my brother @harbhajan_singh are huge pillars of support; this bond we have shows love & peace transgresses borders when it comes to humanity especially. Best wishes to you with your noble endeavours with @YOUWECAN #DonateKaroNa https://t.co/IVhqywdl3q
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) March 31, 2020
The bilateral ties between and Pakistan have been strained due to tension between the two governments. The two countries have not played a single bilateral series since 2012.
