Islamabad: The Pakistani media has been warned by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan to immediately stop praising India’s cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who has just retired from all forms of the game.
In a video message, Taliban spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid, said it was unfortunate to see the Pakistan media hail the 40-year-old Tendulkar, who retired on November 16 after playing his 200th Test match in Mumbai.
“There is this Indian cricket player Sachin Tendulkar. It was unfortunate to see Pakistani media go to great extent to pay tribute to him,” Shahid, who was flanked by two AK-47 wielding masked men, said in the video message.
“Now someone should tell Pakistani media and other Pakistanis that no matter how good Tendulkar is, they should not praise him, it is against Pakistani nationalism and against loyalty to the country,” he said.
Shahid said instead of hailing Tendulkar, the Pakistan media should back embattled captain Misbah-ul-Haq even though he was a “substandard and low-level player”.
Misbah has been criticised by the Pakistani media for his passive captaincy that also earned him the nickname “Tuk-tuk”.
“No matter that Misbah-ul-Haq is a substandard and low-level player, Pakistani media should praise him because he is a Pakistani,” Shahid said.
In the last one month the South Asian media has paid rich tributes to Tendulkar who has bid farewell to his 24-year glorious career that touched many lives.
Despite India-Pakistan being the fiercest arch-rivals, the Pakistan media was generous in hailing Tendulkar.
Meanwhile, the retired batsman became UNICEF’s first brand ambassador for South Asia and is all set to work in promoting hygiene and sanitation in the region.
“Thanks for allowing me to start this wonderful second innings of my life. I’m looking forward to being an ambassador for UNICEF and serve to the best of my ability. This is an innings that is really really important to me, so I will try my best,” said Tendulkar.
“I was surprised to know that 36 per cent of the world population don’t have access to safe and clean toilets. In today’s day and age to think about this basic facility not being available to a common man, it is really difficult to digest,” he said. (Agencies)