Anguished fans demand crowd at Mohali for Kohli's 100th Test match, slams BCCI for 'dirty politics'
#AllowCrowdinMohali top trending on Twitter
Mumbai: Amidst all the debate around former India skipper Virat Kohli's 100th Test match that is set to begin on March 4 in Mohali, the fans continue to express their anguish over BCCI’s move to play the match behind closed doors. Several hashtags on the topic including #AllowCrowdinMohali were among the top-trending hashtags on Twitter on Monday.
Fans have been expressively upset over BCCI’s decision to not allow crowd at the milestone match for one of India’s greatest batters of all time.
Several fans blamed the BCCI for playing dirty politics with the former skipper after his fallout with board President Sourav Ganguly which saw him getting down from Test and T20I captaincy and being stripped off ODI captaincy of the international men’s team.
Several users on Twitter also pointed out how other boards, ICC, and broadcasters use Kohli’s aura and charisma to endorse the game while he continues being humiliated by his own home board.
Earlier, the Punjab Cricket Association clarified that it was as per the directive of BCCI that the match was being played without crowds at the ground.
Crowds have been allowed at Bengaluru which is set to host the second test match of the series. Crowds were also allowed at the recently concluded T20I series against Sri Lanka at Lucknow and Dharmashala.
Kohli’s 100th Test match was earlier scheduled to be played at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, the home ground of Kohli’s IPL team RCB, but the schedule was later altered and the first test of the series was shifted to Mohali.
Senior Sport Journalist Vikrant Gupta also took to his Twitter handle and added some percentage of the crowd should be allowed at the ground for one of the biggest cricketing days of Virat Kohli. He added that it was a pity that no crowd was allowed.
"It’s a pity Virat Kohli’s 100th Test won’t have any crowd to cheer one of his biggest cricketing days. Maybe some percentage should have been let in during the Tests" he wrote in his tweet.
However, PCA is putting up billboards across the stadium to celebrate the momentous occasion in Kohli’s glittering cricket career.
“We will be putting up big billboards and our PCA Apex Council has also decided to felicitate Virat. We will either do it at the start of the game or at the end depending on BCCI directive.”
#AllowedCrowdinMohali was one of the top three trending topics on Twitter India on Monday afternoon while #AllowCrownFor100thTestOfKohli #ViratKohli were also among the top-trending hashtags.
Here are some of the tweets of the users with hashtags demanding crowd at Mohali stadium for Kohli’s 100th Test match.
It’s a pity Virat Kohli’s 100th Test won’t have any crowd to cheer one of his biggest cricketing days. Maybe some percentage should have been let in during the Tests @BCCI
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) February 26, 2022
The brand ambassador of Test Cricket will be playing his 100th Test match on 4th March. It's pathetic that BCCI hasn't allowed crowd @imVkohli
— iᴍ_Aʀʏᴀɴ18 (@crickohli18) February 28, 2022
Unbelievable! Ridiculous!🤦♂️#AllowCrowdinMohalihttps://t.co/Y4Hv7S4Loepic.twitter.com/PQeuxet5x6
He deserves the best for taking Indian test team to greater heights. Make his 100th test a memorable one @BCCI #AllowCrowdinMohali pic.twitter.com/4xbNt9dApt
— Sai Krishna💫 (@SaiKingkohli) February 28, 2022
Not only broadcasters but even boards like ICC, CA, CSA, ECB use Virat Kohli’s name to endorse this game. This disrespect by BCCI on his 100th test is uncalled for. #AllowCrowdinMohali pic.twitter.com/dosFGjU90v
— Pari (@BluntIndianGal) February 28, 2022
Utterly shameful that crowds are allowed in the stadium on either side of Virat Kohli's 100th test match but not allowed only during that match
— Ricky talks Cricket (@CricRicky) February 28, 2022
Also it's shady how BCCI changed the original test from Bengaluru, which is now hosting the next match with crowds#AllowCrowdinMohali
Crowds are allowed in lucknow, Dharamsala. Bengaluru but not in mohali...
— A (@_shortarmjab_) February 28, 2022
Greatest player of this generation deserves way better. Allow crowds for the first test abeg @bcci #AllowCrowdinMohali
Crowd chanting KOHLI KOHLI 🥁
— Yashvi (@BreatheKohli) February 28, 2022
Fans love him and he should get this love in his 100th test match aswell@bcci #AllowCrowdinMohali pic.twitter.com/LKUR42m0ZA
Australians knows his value. It's so terrible that our own board is not giving respect which he deserves. #AllowCrowdinMohalipic.twitter.com/BImQC5hlhA
— Gaurav Chavan (@_fearless18_) February 28, 2022
Carrying this Indian cricket team on his shoulder when he was just 23 years old.
— Sahil (@VkRightarmquick) February 28, 2022
Greatest cricketer of this generation deserves a better treatment from bcci#KingKohli #ViratKohli #AllowCrowdinMohali#AllowCrowdFor100thTestOfKohli pic.twitter.com/Y4efg4VU43
He deserves this kind of applause and cheer for one of the most special match of his Test career .This needs to special and memorable @bcci#AllowCrowdinMohalipic.twitter.com/ugOWiYdvYl
— ♕¹⁸ (@virat_holics) February 28, 2022
"Thank you Virat he loves Test cricket he is the biggest superstar on this planet"
— Gaurav (@Kohli4ever) February 28, 2022
-Shane Warne
Learn how to respect your Greatest player @BCCI#AllowcrowdinMohalipic.twitter.com/kZQmFaGyRd
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
