Members of the 1983 World Cup-winning cricket team have expressed their concerns over the recent protests by wrestlers, urging them not to take hasty actions and hoping for a resolution to their grievances. Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia have been demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Birj Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexual exploitation of women wrestlers. The wrestlers had threatened to immerse their hard-earned medals into the holy river Ganga as a form of protest. However, they did not carry out this action during their recent visit to Haridwar.

The protests had initially led to the detention of the wrestlers by the Delhi Police on May 28, as they were marching towards the new Parliament building without permission. The police also cleared the protest site at Jantar Mantar and made it clear that the wrestlers would not be allowed to return. This police action drew criticism from various quarters.

In response to the situation, the members of the 1983 World Cup-winning cricket team have released a statement expressing their distress and concern over the treatment of the wrestlers. They also emphasized the significance of the hard-earned medals, which symbolize years of effort, sacrifice, determination, and grit. The statement highlights that these medals are not only the wrestlers’ personal achievements but also a source of pride for the nation.

“Let’s not make a political situation out of this. Law of the land should prevail and it should be respected. As a sportperson we don’t want to spoil our country’s name. We love our sportspersons and our country,” Kapil Dev told CNN-News18. “Letter is approved by all members,” he added.

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“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,” a statement released to PTI by the 1983 World Cup wining team read.

1983 Cricket World Cup winning team issues statement on wrestlers’ protest – “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… pic.twitter.com/9FxeQOKNGj

— ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2023

“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.

The 1983 World Cup victory holds a special place in Indian cricket history. Under the leadership of Kapil Dev, the Indian cricket team achieved an iconic triumph by defeating the mighty West Indies, captained by Clive Lloyd. This victory marked India’s first-ever World Cup win and remains a cherished memory for cricket fans across the country.

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The 1983 World Cup-winning team comprised legends of Indian cricket, including Sunil Gavaskar, Mohinder Amarnath, K. Srikanth, Syed Kirmani, Yashpal Sharma, Madan Lal, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Sandeep Patil, Kirti Azad, and Roger Binny. Together, they showcased exceptional talent, determination, and teamwork to bring glory to the nation.