Now, Viru & Ganguly slam Imran Khan for UN speech; criticise Pak PM for talking 'rubbish'

Khan hinted at the possibility of a conventional war between India and Pakistan.

By ET Online | Oct 04, 2019, 02.05 PM IST

On Thursday, Sehwag tweeted a video wherein an American news channel debated over Khan's speech and criticised him.

Four days after cricketer-turned-MP Gautam Gambhir criticised Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for talking war and bloodshed at the United Nations General Assembly, more voices from the Indian cricket fraternity have decried stood up against Khan and said that he no longer can be perceived as a cricketer whom the world once knew. Some of these cricket legends had once shared the pitch as opponents with Khan.

Former batsman Virendra Sehwag and ex-skipper Sourav Ganguly took to Twitter to slam the 66-year-old Khan for his speech at the 74th session at UNGA on September 27 where he hinted at the possibility of a conventional war between the two nuclear-armed countries.

On Thursday, Sehwag tweeted a video in which an American news channel debated over Khan's speech and criticised him. The former India opener slammed him for delivering a 'pathetic' speech, and went on to say that the Pakistan PM is 'inventing new ways to humiliate himself'.

You sound like a welder from the Bronx, says the anchor. After the pathetic speech in the UN a few days ago , this… https://t.co/uwLfc3YcP6
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) 1570088911000

Ganguly concurred with Sehwag's words and reiterated that Khan's speech was 'rubbish'. He also said that Khan is not the cricketer that the world once knew.

@virendersehwag Viru .. I see this and I am shocked ..a speech which is unheard of .. a world which needs peace ,pa… https://t.co/bLt39oH2ey
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) 1570123725000

Harbhajan Singh and Mohammed Shami, too, did not seem pleased with Khan's words at the UN. They, too, critiqued him for issuing despicable threats and invoking hatred in his speech.

At UNGA speech, there were indications for India of potential nuclear war. As a prominent sportsperson, Imran Khan’… https://t.co/4pUyfR7GXV
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) 1570025435000

Mahatma Gandhi spent his life spreading the message of love, harmony and peace. @ImranKhanPTI from UN podium issued… https://t.co/e4H3xh0uC8
— Mohammad Shami (@MdShami11) 1570023443000

Mohammed Azharuddin expressed disappointment at what Khan spoke, and said that he once believed that the former skipper would be able to free Pakistan of terrorism. Irfan Pathan too, said that the Pak PM showed no sportsmanship.

Pakistan PM @ImranKhanPTI's speech in the UN was less like the Cricketer we knew. This was least expected from a sp… https://t.co/1TuR73rO0v
— Mohammed Azharuddin (@azharflicks) 1570028419000

At UNGA speech, there were indications for India of potential nuclear war. As a prominent sportsperson, Imran Khan’… https://t.co/5Dzq2YV9yf
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) 1569995397000

Earlier, on Monday, Gambhir slammed Khan for his speech at the UN and named the PM a role model for terrorists. Shikhar Dhawan, too, joined in and expressed disappointment in his speech on a TV show.

On August 5, Home Minister Amit Shah announced in the Rajya Sabha that the government of India has revoked Article 370 of the Constitution. The article provided special status to the former state of Jammu & Kashmir. With its abrogation, the state was split into two union territories and the residents were stripped off their special status.

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