Pahalgam attack: From Tendulkar to Bindra, sports fraternity unites in grief

From Sachin Tendulkar to Neeraj Chopra or Mohammed Shami, the entire sporting community of India were united in grief as there was a lone voice calling for a boycott of all sporting ties with Pakistan after the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Jammu & Kashmir on Tuesday.

Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, both of whom command a huge following on social media, expressed shock as they mourned the loss of lives. ‘’The affected families must be going through an unimaginable ordeal - India and the world stand united with them at this dark hour as we mourn the loss of lives and pray for justice,’’ said Tendulkar.

‘’Heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. Praying for peace and strength to families all those who lost their lives and justice to be served for their cruel act,’’ Kohli posted on his Instagram account.

Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, meanwhile, appealed for sanity as Shami took to his X handle to share an image of the valley with 'All Eyes on Pahalgam' written on it.

''I am deeply saddened to address the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam. This heinous act has resulted in significant loss of innocent lives and has left families shattered. Such violence not only targets individuals but also undermines the fabric of our society. In these testing times, we must stand united in our condemnation of terrorism and extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims' families," Shami said.

Siraj. meanwhile, penned a strongly-worded post, calling to "end the madness" and urging that the perpetrators be punished without mercy.

"Just read about the horrific and shocking terrorist attack in Pahalgam. To target and kill innocent civilians in the name of religion is pure evil... No cause, no belief, no ideology can ever justify such a monstrous act," the Indian speedster, who plays for Gujarat Titans in IPL, wrote. "Yeh kaisi ladai hai. Jahaan insaan ki jaan ki koi keemat hi nahi (what kind of fight is this, where there is no value for a human life?)?"

The likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, K.L. Rahul, and former India captain and coach Anil Kumble echoed similar sentiments while the likes of Shreevats Goswami, a former Royal Challengers Bangalore player and boxer Vijender Singh, Olympic medallist and now a BJP MP, called for retribution.

"And this is exactly why I say - you don’t play cricket with Pakistan. Not now. Not ever. When BCCI or the government refused to send India to the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, some had the audacity to say, Oh, but sport should rise above politics,’’ Goswami, a wicketkeeper-batter who played for India A, wrote on his X handle. "Murdering innocent Indians seems to be Pakistan’s national sport and India should respond with zero tolerance and not with bats and balls.’’

Incidentally, India has not played bilateral cricket with Pakistan since a one-off ODI series in 2012–13 though ironically enough, any Indo-Pak match has been the most anticipated clash in all white-ball World Cups and ICC Champions Trophy tournaments for more than a decade now. The last edition of the Champions Trophy ran into rough weather as the BCCI declined to send a team to Pakistan earlier this year citing security concerns.

The Indo-Pak matches were finally held in a neutral venue, Dubai, in February-March, while both the BCCI and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have decided not to play on each other’s soil for the next three years.

Gautam Gambhir, Indian cricket team head coach and former BJP MP, wrote: ‘’Praying for the families of the deceased. Those responsible for this will pay. India will strike.’’

Vijender Singh, Olympic bronze medallist in London 2012 and now a BJP MP, called for firm action. ‘’Our brave soldiers will definitely give a befitting reply to this cowardly attack in the coming times. In the presence of the brave sons of Mother India, the plans of those who want to disturb the peace in Jammu and Kashmir will never succeed,’’ he asserted.

The Olympic gold medallist duo of javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and shooter Abhinav Bindra prayed for the victims. An Army personnel himself, Chopra wrote: ‘’Heartbroken by the tragic attack in Jammu & Kashmir. Prayers for the victims and their families.’’

Bindra wrote: ‘’Heartbroken by the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. Terror has no place in our world , we must stand united against hatred and violence.’’

Boxer Zareen, a gold medallist at the Asian Games and World Championships, said: ‘’Those who attack innocents attack humanity itself. Strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Pahalgam. Justice must be swift.’’

Cricketer-turned-politician Yusuf Pathan and his brother Irfan Pathan also expressed deep anguish. ‘’Every time an innocent life is lost, humanity loses,’’ Irfan wrote. ‘’Such acts of violence have no place in our society. May peace prevail,’’ added Yusuf, a Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP from Baharampur, West Bengal.