AAP slams BJP over Asia Cup, demands match revenues for Pahalgam victims
New Delhi (PTI): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) raised questions on Monday over the political messaging surrounding India's Asia Cup final against Pakistan and suggested that the revenue generated from the cricket match could be used to support the families of the Pahalgam terror attack victims.
No official response was available from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
AAP's Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj shared video footage showing the Indian cricket team captain shaking hands with his Pakistani counterpart after stepping down from the stage after the Asia Cup final, in contrast to claims circulating online that no such interaction took place.
In a statement issued by the AAP, Bharadwaj claimed that the broadcasting and advertisement revenue from the India-Pakistan Asia Cup final in Dubai on Sunday was estimated at around Rs 690 crore.
He said if this amount is allocated to the families of the 26 victims of the Pahalgam attack, each family could potentially receive anywhere between Rs 19 and Rs 25 crore.
During an interaction with the media, Bharadwaj said the videos allow the public to see the sequence of events before and after the post-match press-conference, adding that such transparency helps in understanding what actually happened.
Opposition parties have targeted the BJP-led Centre over India's participation in the Asia Cup and playing cricket with Pakistan after the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
While the AAP has focussed on potential support for the victims' families, the Congress has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for comparing a cricket match to a military operation.
India secured its ninth Asia Cup title, defeating Pakistan by five wickets, in a thrilling final in Dubai on Sunday.
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Abhigyan Kundu hits 209 not out for first-ever double ton in Youth ODIs for India
Dubai (PTI): Wicketkeeper-batter Abhigyan Kundu on Tuesday created history with first-ever double ton in Youth ODIs for India, scoring an unbeaten against Malaysia in the U-19 Asia Cup match here.
The 17-year-old Kundu thus recorded only the second instance of a double century in Youth ODIs after South Africa's Jorich Van Schalkwyk, who had scored 215 off 153 balls against Zimbabwe earlier this year in Harare.
Batting at No 5, the left-handed Kundu hit an overall 19 fours and seven sixes to smash 209 not out off only 125 balls.
His knock powered India U-19 to a huge 408 for seven batting first.
Earlier in the same tournament, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had scored a 95-ball 171 against the UAE, which is overall the ninth highest individual score in the format.
