Members of ’83 WC winning team issue statement on wrestlers issue; BCCI chief Binny distances himself from it

BCCI President Roger Binny on Friday said he was not a signatory to a statement on the wresters’ protest against WFI chief, hours after members of the 1983 World Cup winning cricket team voiced support for the grapplers.

Binny, who became BCCI chief in October 2022, was part of the Indian cricket team that sealed a historic title triumph in the 1983 World Cup in England.

“Contrary to some media reports, I would like to clarify that I have not issued any statement regarding the current situation of the wrestlers’ protest,” Binny told PTI.

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Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi with protesting wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and others in April 2023 (Express/File)

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Wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik sit on a dharna against the Wrestling Federation of India in New Delhi. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna/File)

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Haridwar: Protesting wrestler Sakshi Malik at Har ki Pauri ghat, in Haridwar, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. The wrestlers reached Haridwar to immerse their medals in Ganga river as a mark of protest against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment. (PTI Photo)(PTI05_30_2023_000268A)

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Sakshi Malik, the wrestler who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, is detained by the police during a protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the president of the Wrestling Federation of India, in New Delhi, May, 28, 2023. (AP)

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Celebrities extend support to protesting wrestlers.

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Haridwar: Protesting wrestler Sangeeta Phogat at Har ki Pauri ghat, in Haridwar, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. The wrestlers reached Haridwar to immerse their medals in Ganga river as a mark of protest against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment. (PTI Photo)(PTI05_30_2023_000269A)

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Sakshi Malik, an Indian wrestler who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, leads a team of wrestlers towards the banks of the river Ganges in Haridwar, India, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. India's top wrestlers held off from throwing their medals into the country's sacred Ganges River on Tuesday as part of an ongoing protest against sexual harassment after community leaders intervened and persuaded them against doing so. They accuse Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the president of the Wrestling Federation of India, of sexually harassing seven young female wrestlers, including a minor. (AP Photo)

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Sakshi Malik, an Indian wrestler who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, sits with fellow wrestlers by the banks of the river Ganges in Haridwar, India, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. India's top wrestlers held off from throwing their medals into the country's sacred Ganges River on Tuesday as part of an ongoing protest against sexual harassment after community leaders intervened and persuaded them against doing so. They accuse Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the president of the Wrestling Federation of India, of sexually harassing seven young female wrestlers, including a minor. (AP Photo)

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Indian wrestlers, from right, Bajrang Punia, Sangita Phogat and Vinesh Phogat talk to each other ahead of their protest march towards the newly inaugurated parliament, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, May, 28, 2023. India’s top wrestlers have been protesting for more than a month, demanding the resignation and arrest of the president of the wrestling federation for allegedly sexually harassing young athletes.(AP Photo/Shonal Ganguly)

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Six-time BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused by India's top women wrestlers of sexual harassment (File)

“I believe that the competent authorities are working on to resolve the issue. As a former cricketer, I believe that sports should not be mixed with politics,” he added.

Earlier in the day, members of the 1983 World Cup winning came out in support of the protesting wrestlers and urged them not to take any hasty decision while hoping that players’ issues will be “heard and resolved”.

The statement said the team was distressed and disturbed after seeing the visuals of wrestlers being manhandled but also hoped that law of the land will prevail.

Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, who have been demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Birj Bhushan Sharan Singh for alleged sexual exploitation of women wrestlers, took their protest to Haridwar on May 30 but did not carry out the threat of immersing their medals into holy river Ganga.

On May 28, the Delhi Police had detained the wrestlers for violation of law and order when they marched towards the new Parliament building without permission.
The Police also cleared the protest site and made it clear that the wrestlers will not be allowed back at Jantar Mantar.

The police action against the wrestlers had invited criticism from different quarters.

“We are distressed and disturbed at the unseemly visuals of our champion wrestlers being manhandled. We are also most concerned that they are thinking of dumping their hard earned medals into river Ganga,” the statement read.

“Those medals have involved years of effort, sacrifice, determination, and grit and are not only their own but the nation’s pride and joy. We urge them not to take any hasty decision in this matter and also fervently hope that their grievances are heard and resolved quickly. Let the law of the land prevail,” the statement read further.

Under legendary skipper Kapil Dev, the Indian cricket team had humbled the mighty Clive Lloyd led-West Indies to win the country’s first World Cup trophy.

“I am not going to say anything individually, the whole of 1983 team stands by the statement we have issued,” Kapil said.

It has been learnt that Kirti Azad, who was part of the 83 team and is now a Trinamool Congress member, sought approval only from Kapil and Madan Lal before issuing the statement.

The other members of the 83 batch include iconic Sunil Gavaskar, Mohinder Amarnath, K Srikanth, Syed Kirmani, Yashpal Sharma, Madan Lal, Balwinder Singh Sandhu and Sandeep Patil.

The World Cup final was played at the Lord’s on June 25, 1983.

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Among other former Indian cricketers, Anil Kumble, Robin Uthappa and Irfan Pathan have shown solidarity with the elite wrestlers.

The active cricketers are yet to comment on the controversy.