The first time Pakistan and India played against each other in a World Cup was way back in 1992 and it took the Men In Green almost two decades to register their first victory over their arch-rivals in the World Cup. 

Record breakers @iMRizwanPak and @babarazam258 posted the highest first-wicket partnership in Men's #T20WorldCup history in #Pakistan's momentous win

Read more https://t.co/yh4mb4SuXa#INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/NOyVY1ivyD

— ICC (@ICC) October 25, 2021

India are still unbeaten against Pakistan in the 50-over World Cup, winning seven matches in a row but their winning run in the T20 World Cup came to an end on Sunday at the Dubai International cricket stadium when Babar Azam’s side registered a massive 10-wicket victory.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓. 𝐀. 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 #T20WorldCup | #INDvPAK | https://t.co/74tB9RjNUH pic.twitter.com/DHagg9XqtN

— ICC (@ICC) October 24, 2021

The Pakistani fans had waited for this occasion for a long time and given how their players performed on the night they deserved to win.

While Pakistani cricketers brought a smile on the faces of their fans, their ministers brought shame to the country by giving a hateful speech in which he mixed cricket with religion and dragged the Indian muslims into it.

Instead of congratulating the Babar Azam-led side on their historic win, Pakistan’s minister Sheikh Rasheed gave a shameful speech and described their cricket team’s win as the “victory of Islam”.

After Pakistan’s first-ever victory against India in the World Cup in 13 attempts, Pakistan Minister Sheikh Rasheed describes Pakistan’s victory against India in the T20 WC match as a "victory of Islam."#IndiaVsPak #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/RvgGODiOHy

— News18 (@CNNnews18) October 25, 2021

He further said that for them this was their final and “muslims all over the world, including Indian muslims, were rooting for Pakistan’s victory.”

Statements like these clearly expose Pakistan’s bigotry. On one hand the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja says that cricket should be kept away from politics and, on the other hand, one of their politicians is spewing hatred by dragging religion into the game.

© Twitter BCCI

His statement agitated Indian fans and they took to the micro-blogging site to set him straight. Even Indian muslims slammed him for spreading hatred and using a game of cricket to fulfill his political agenda.

Pak Home Minister @ShkhRasheed is mentally bankrupt. Emotions of #IndianMuslims r not with #PakCricketTeam at all. #Pak victory against #Ind in a cricket match is not victory of #IslamicWorld. Better u shut up Mr. NaPak Minister, u neither represent us nor Islamic World. #INDvPAK https://t.co/CnVsfJQR9H

— Asif Nawaz आसिफ नवाज़ (@IAsifNawaz) October 25, 2021

Kaha se late he ye namune .....pakistan...iski tabiyat to thik he na...bevkuf

— Balbhdra_Vekariya (@BalbhdraV) October 25, 2021

Bhai tu rehana de

Bhudhape me dimag kharab hogaya

Hindustani Musalman desh k leya jeeta hai aur waqt aaya tho marega bhe

As a Indian Muslim I want to congratulate you on your victory, so go and enjoy your victory and stop thinking about Indian Muslims #TeamIndian#JaiHind

— Being MEN (@shakeelcc) October 25, 2021

Match jite ho toh khushiyaan manao, bakchodi mat karo. Hindustani musalmaan Hindustani hai.

— Zaman Gheyas (@ZGhryas) October 25, 2021

Sometimes we start thinking that game is above everything and Pakistan deserves to win. Let's celebrate cricket together but these kind of people don't let us think sensibly.

— Rohit gupta (@rohit1982adi) October 25, 2021

For us it was just a game, but for them it was a War. Spirit of Game, My Foot!

— Varun (@krishsthoughts) October 25, 2021

To ho gya fir? Final nhi khelna? Apni team bula lo fir
What do you mean by "Sare Alme Islam me?" I follow Islam but I'm sad that my team #TeamIndia couldn't win. Stop this nonsense @ShkhRasheed https://t.co/VZM2dMWtbC

— S. IMAMUL (@IMAMUL14) October 25, 2021

Not just the Indian fans, even the Pakistani supporters described their minister’s statement as “absurd” and bashed him for mixing sports and religion.

‘Congratulations to whole Muslim community around the globe’ - This is quite an absurd statement by interior minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed. Keep politics and religion out of cricket please pic.twitter.com/qggRqIQd4W

— Shiraz Hassan (@ShirazHassan) October 25, 2021

O Sheikh sb, o khuda khofi kro koi. Ye aalm e Islam ki jang nahi match tha. Har jagah apna syasat ka chamcha na phera kro, gandy hoty ho.

— Sajid Mehmood (@sajidmehmd) October 25, 2021

After the match, images of Virat Kohli hugging the Pakistani players and congratulating them on their win had gone viral and people loved the fact that despite the loss the Indian skipper greeted his opponents with a smile on his face.

Virat Kohli appreciating Babar Azam and Rizwan. After all, this is a game. Always nice to see this mutual respect. pic.twitter.com/ouVH9gWISr

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 24, 2021

These moments make cricket beautiful. pic.twitter.com/p6PZU3Q9FG

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 24, 2021

Not just that, even Team India mentor MS Dhoni was spotted standing alongside several Pakistani players after the match and these pictures were hailed online as a symbol of the spirit of the game.

These pictures of players from both sides greeting each other with affection and sharing a laugh was the true indicator of what cricket is all about, not this politically-driven stupid statement.

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