The social media handles trolling Australian cricketers and giving death and rape threats to their families after India’s loss in the World Cup Final do not originate from India and could possibly be created by ISI to foment tension, top Intelligence sources have told CNN-News18.
Sources said the handles were closely examined and it was found that no Indian was involved in the outrageous act. “This is possibly done by ISI and Pakistan-based social media handles who always create a tool kit to promote this kind of social media tension,” they said.
After India’s loss against Australia, many cricket fans trolled the family members of Australian cricketers on their social media accounts.
This was also highlighted by Vini Raman, the wife of Australian all-rounder Glen Maxwell, who revealed that she had received “hateful vile DMs” on her Instagram account.
“aaaaand cue all the hateful vile DMs. Stay classy… Can’t believe this needs to be said BUT you can be Indian and also support the country of your birth where you have been raised and more importantly the team your husband plus father of your child plays in #nobrainer. Take a chill pill and direct that outrage towards more important world issues (SIC),” the Indian-origin Raman wrote in an Instagram post on Monday.
Earlier last week, Indian cricketer Mohd Shami was also trolled and it was discovered that handles, mainly from Pakistan, were behind the attack.
“Indian audience is very reasonable and no such incident was reported in Ahmedabad stadium. People were even sitting till the last ball,” the sources said as they rubbished reports of a silent and unsupportive crowd.
The sources added that Pakistan’s frustration has instigated trollers but there is not much concern in India over the incident.
“The trolling of Mohd Shami is part of routine trolling activities of hate groups and instigating by ISI and Pakistan-based handles. There are attempts to create a communal divide in sports also,” they said.
Highlighting how Shami sitting on the ground — an act he was trolled for — could be connected to ‘Sajda’, the Intel sources said VIrat Kohli was seen in the same pose on the field as India lost to Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The sources said the idea is to break the morale of the cricketer by telling him he is doing wrong things that are “anti-religion”.
“In today’s scenario, this is very common and some Muslim groups are after Shami. At one stage, hate was trending on social media but it was taken over by his best work. The Indian political leadership also acknowledged the great work done by all the players. In sports and dressing rooms, there is no communal divide and regular feedbacks are coming through boards and security teams,” they added.
“Trollers pick any activity of sportsmen on the ground and take to hate activity. Pakistan’s frustration is visible. The recent statement by a Pakistani cricket player about Aishwarya Rai is also part of that frustration,” they said.
Former Pakistani cricketer Abdul Razzaq was forced to issue a public apology after his bizarre comment on the Bollywood actress triggered a massive row on social media. The incident happened when Razzaq was explaining about the Pakistan cricket team’s performance in the World Cup 2023 as well as their coaching strategies.
Suggesting that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did not have the intention to polish the country’s cricket, he said: “Everyone over here is talking about the intention and Pakistan’s team. Actually, we don’t have good intentions to develop and polish players in Pakistan. If you think that by marrying Aishwarya Rai, a good and pious kid would be born, it would never happen.”
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