'Cricketers like them need to be careful about what they write' - Salman Butt criticizes Sehwag, Gambhir for tweets after Pakistan win

Former Pakistan opener Salman Butt has expressed his disappointment over how his team’s victory against India was received by former Indian cricketers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. Pakistan hammered India by 10 wickets in Dubai on October 24 to record their first-ever victory against their Asian rivals in World Cups.

Following that, both Gambhir and Sehwag took to their official Twitter to condemn those who celebrated Pakistan’s victory by bursting crackers in India. “Firecrackers are banned during Diwali but yesterday in parts of India there were firecrackers to celebrate Pakistan ‘s victory. Achha they must have been celebrating victory of cricket. Toh , what’s the harm in fireworks on Diwali. Hypocrisy kyun, Saara gyaan tab hi yaad aata hai,” read Sehwag’s tweet from October 25.

Firecrackers are banned during Diwali but yesterday in parts of India there were firecrackers to celebrate Pakistan ‘s victory. Achha they must have been celebrating victory of cricket. Toh , what’s the harm in fireworks on Diwali. Hypocrisy kyun ,Saara gyaan tab hi yaad aata hai

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 25, 2021

The reaction did not sit well with Butt, who criticized the former opener on his YouTube channel. “You don’t expect international cricketers to react this way. They have played the game for so long and were such renowned sportspersons. These are the people who are expected to make people understand. If they react in such a way, then obviously people around them will think what they are saying is right,” Butt said.

“Cricketers like them need to be careful about what they write because they have so many followers. People listen to them and what they say and do has an impact on them. They should be the people doing the best talk, giving the best speech, promoting peace and harmony. These should not talk about things that are not suitable,” he added.

The 37-year-old also recounted an incident from 2004 when firecrackers were set off by the PCB despite an India win. “When India were playing the ODI series in Pakistan (in 2004), PCB had arranged for firecrackers for the last match. The series was tied at 2-2. The firecrackers were set off even after India won the series, which was a great gesture from PCB. This is what sportsman spirit is.”

India went into the encounter with a 12-0 streak behind them that lasted nearly three decades but eventually ended with a thumping defeat.