Ahmedabad: Amidst widespread speculation about Team India donning a special saffron-colored jersey for their highly anticipated 2023 World Cup match against Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 14, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has put an end to the rumors.
BCCI's Treasurer, Ashish Shelar, categorically denied any plans of Team India wearing an alternative match kit for the game against Pakistan.
In an official statement, Shelar refuted the media reports, dismissing them as baseless and the product of someone's imagination. He emphasized that Team India would sport their original colors at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
While it is true that Team India has introduced a new saffron-colored training kit for the World Cup, their official match jersey remains the trademark light blue color. This clarification comes after media reports stirred debates about the possibility of India wearing a saffron jersey for the blockbuster clash against Pakistan.
Notably, in the 2019 World Cup, Team India did sport a saffron and dark blue jersey against England, designated as their away kit for the tournament. However, as hosts of this edition, India is not required to have an alternate jersey.
As the cricketing world eagerly anticipates the India-Pakistan faceoff, all eyes will be on the iconic match set to take place on October 14. Before this marquee battle, Team India is scheduled to play against Afghanistan at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium on October 11.
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New Delhi: Prominent tribal leader and former MLA Mahesh Vasava resigned from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on April 14, citing deep concerns that the country is no longer being governed in accordance with the Constitution. His resignation came on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti, a symbolic move underscoring his disapproval of the current political climate.
Vasava, the son of veteran tribal politician Chhotu Vasava and former MLA from the Dediyapada constituency in Gujarat, had joined the BJP in March 2024 ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. He submitted his resignation to Gujarat BJP president C.R. Paatil.
Speaking to the media, Vasava said, “On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar, I have to say that the country is not being run according to the Constitution. Adivasis, Dalits, OBCs, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and other poor classes will unite and fight the ideology of the RSS and the BJP.”
Vasava also expressed dissatisfaction with his treatment within the party following the election results. “After the results were announced, BJP leaders did not invite me to any meetings or public programs. They deliberately isolated me,” he said, adding that he would now dedicate his efforts to the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP), founded by his father. “A political earthquake is coming, and Bharuch will be its epicenter,” he warned.
Reacting to the development, Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said Vasava’s resignation on Ambedkar Jayanti was a clear indication of the BJP’s alleged anti-Adivasi stance and disregard for constitutional values. “This resignation has once again exposed the anti-Constitutional approach of the BJP,” Doshi stated.
Vasava’s departure adds to the political churn in Gujarat, especially among tribal and marginalized communities, and may signal a shift in tribal political alignment ahead of future state and national elections.