NEW DELHI: Many cricket fans have threatened on social media to boycott India's high-profile match against archrivals Pakistan on Saturday because of Pakistan's support for terrorism, reigniting the "boycott" trend and a discussion about whether politics and sports can be kept apart.
After pictures and videos of Pakistani players being given a warm welcome for their World Cup matches in India went viral, many wondered why they are receiving such a favorable reception.
Many cricket fans were incensed when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a pre-match performance by Bollywood singers Arijit Singh, Shankar Mahadevan, and Sukhwinder Singh at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium.
It is noteworthy that the ICC Cricket World Cup, which was staged for the first time ever in India as a solo host, did not feature an opening ceremony.
The video of Pakistan players receiving a warm welcome and announcement of the pre-match show in Ahmedabad ahead of the clash led to many social media users voicing out their displeasure, threatening to boycott the show and the match itself.
