Pakistan mocks IAF Commander Abhinandan Varthaman ahead of the India vs Pakistan World Cup match on June 16 via an advertisement.
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As is the case with every India vs Pakistan clash in a Cricket Match, the off-field rivalry between the Cricket fans from both the nations have begun. And this is no trivial bilateral series affair. It is World Cricket’s biggest event- the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
India will square off against arch-rivals Pakistan in the World Cup match no.22 on June 16 at the Old Trafford in Manchester. With less than just a week away, the rather ugly banter between the fans from both the teams have begun, and it is the broadcasters who have taken the onus to spark off the verbal ding-dong thereby doing no good to the relations between the two neighbours.
After the popular Mauka Mauka ad the Star Sports surfaced the other day belittling Pakistan as India’s ‘son’, Pakistan has now hit back with its advertisement, and unfortunately it is the Indian Air Force’s (AIF) wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman who has been used as a pawn to escalate the ugly social media battle.
Pakistan TV stoops to an all time low
The Pakistan broadcaster of World Cup matches- Jazz Tv has used the IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman as a pawn to garner the attention of its viewers ahead of the much hyped June 16 clash.
In the 33-second advertising clip for the aforementioned match, a character impersonating Abhinandan is seen sporting his famous handlebar moustache with a cup of tea in his hand.
The character is seen mimicking Abhinandan- The IAF pilot captured by Pakistan on February 27 this year after his plane was downed by a Pakistani Air Force jet in Balakot, post the inhuman Pulwama attack which martyred 40 CRPF jawans on February 14. The attacks were sponsored by Pakistan based terrorist outfit- Jaish-e-Mohammed. The mimick is seen sporting the Blue Indian jersey (not the one Team India is donning during the ongoing World Cup) and is answering in the same manner as was seen in the video clip surfaced by the Pakistan Military after he was captured, although the questions are in relation to the Indian Cricket Team and the World Cup.
The lookalike repeats Abhinandan’s viral statement
The lookalike is seen repeating his viral statement- “I’m sorry, I am not supposed to tell you this” in the ad several times which became very popular amongst the Indian citizens as Abhinandan refused to disclose the vital details pertaining to the security of his nation.
In the TV clip, a voice in the background is heard questioning him as to what he’ll do after winning the Toss. To this the mimmick replies the aforementioned viral statement- ““I’m sorry, I am not supposed to tell you this, Sir”. The voice again asks him as to who are included in India’s playing eleven against Pakistan on June 16. To this he again gives the same aforementioned reply.
The background voice is then heard asking him “How is the tea?” again in a copy of how the real interrogation of Abhinandan played out while he was in captivity. To which the mimmick says, “Tea is really fantastic” – just as Abhinandan had answered. As then Abhinandan’s mimmick was about to leave, the voice orders him to stop and questions him as to where he is taking the cup along with him with a sarcastic tone. The word ‘cup’ was an apparent pun with the Cricket World Cup for which the two sides are competing in this marquee tournament.
Watch the entire clip of the Jazz TV advertisement:
