India’s batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar was widely criticised by Indian cricket fans after the Bharat Ratna awardee opposed the idea of boycotting Pakistan in the forthcoming ICC World Cup 2019, which will be held in England and Wales.

As per the schedule, arch-rivals India and Pakistan will face each other in the group stage of the tournament on June 16 in Manchester. However, following the terror attack in Pulwama, cricket fans and a few veteran cricketers including the likes of Sourav Ganguly and Harbhajan Singh had requested BCCI to forfeit the clash against Pakistan.

Tendulkar took to Twitter and posted that while he remained a true nationalist, it would be a bad idea to let Pakistan walk away with the crucial two points if India decided to pull out of the World Cup match against them.

“India has always come up trumps against Pakistan in the World Cup. Time to beat them once again. Would personally hate to give them two points and help them in the tournament. Having said that, for me India always comes first, so whatever my country decides, I will back that decision with all my heart,” Tendulkar wrote on Twitter.

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— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 22, 2019

Here is how Twitter reacts on Tendulkar’s comment:

Sachin Tendulkar should be stripped off Bharat Ratna award if rules permit.He is a disgrace to Our Nation

— Nagaraj H S (@nagarajharthi) February 22, 2019

Disgrace! Sachin U hv bn honored wit Bharat ratna & u r clld as God of Cricket! Idc.. Bt Whn it’s abt my country I see No Cricket Team I see No Politics I pay no heed to Famous Personality. Your Statement is bigotry Think abt Our Soldiers , the martyrs #NoCricketWithPakistan

— Nikeeta Bahar (@ms_bahar_7) February 22, 2019

IF INDIA WILL PLAY PAKISTAN WE WILL BE ASHAMED HATE YOU SACHIN SHAME ON YOU TO SUPPORT YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO BHARAT RATNA
OUR 45 CRPF JAWANS MATYR FOR OUR COUNTRY AND THIS PARASITE SUPPORT TO PLAY WITH THEM REALLY ASHAMED OF YOU SACHIN @sachin_rt #NoCricketWithPakistan

— subhamjskd2@gmail.com (@subhamjskd2) February 22, 2019

Time to beat them once again! So u want India 2 play against PAK, not surprised at all.
We know how u played during your days, just wanted to make hundreds not concerned about winning d match, earn money.
Hand over BHARAT RATNA Award to govt.
U Disgrace!

— Raja (@Raja05708699) February 22, 2019

Sachin Tendulkar is a disgrace to the Bharat Ratna. He should be ashamed of himself & surrender his honorary Wing Commander of Indian Air Force rank if he has any dignity & self respect. #NoCricketWithPakistan

— फातिमा अहमद (@Fatima_IND) February 22, 2019

Ashamed of you…It’s disgrace to honour Bharat ratna award to you.
Farmers from MP stopped exporting Tomotos to Pak are more greater than you.

— Avinash Ellur (@ellur_ellur) February 22, 2019

Sachin Tendulkar is a disgrace to the game of cricket. He should be stripped off his Bharat Ratna title.

— Krishna (@Kannan9900) February 22, 2019

Pl return Bharat Ratna which was given to you by ur Sickular Congress by breaking rules, U r a absolute disgrace to d nation along with @BCCI Gavaskar, @azharflicks @imVkohli @ImRo45 Your career is more important than your nation? Dub maro gaddaro

— India_Warrior (@sanjeev_patra1) February 23, 2019

@sachin_rt Tendulkar is a disgrace to the Bharat Ratna. He should be ashamed of himself & surrender his honorary Wing Commander of Indian Air Force rank if he has any dignity & self respect. #NoCricketWithPakistan

— mukesh oraon (@mukesh_oraon) February 22, 2019

सचिन भाई हमारा देश अगर पाक से खेलकर वर्ल्ड कप जीत भी गया तो आज celebrate करेगा कौन ? कोई भी खेल देश से बड़ा तो हो नहीं सकता। आज क्रिकेट जिंदा ही सिर्फ इंडिया के कारण है,अगर भारत क्रिकेट खेलना बंद कर दे तो क्रिकेट खेलना ही बंद हो जाएगा। भारत ने तो मांग करना चाहिए पाक को बाहर करे।

— Manoj Agrawal (@manoj_indore) February 22, 2019

अगर सच मे हमारे खिलाड़ी देश से प्यार करते है और उनके लिए अगर देशप्रेम सबसे बड़ा है तो उनको खुद पाकिस्तान के खिलाफ खेलने से मना कर देना चाहिए। जब गांव का किसान टमाटर फेकने को तैयार है पाकिस्तान भेजने के बजाय तो फिर इनको इतना तो करना ही चाहिए ।

— Manoj Agrawal (@manoj_indore) February 22, 2019

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— The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) February 22, 2019

This is why I respect @SGanguly99 . Dada has the guts to face anything. Sachin is only for records.

— ललातेन्दु दास 🇮🇳 (@Odiawala) February 22, 2019

For @sachin_rt

2 = 44

How come 44 martyred life is valueless thn just 2 points ? Don’t forget we r safe because our #IndainArmy is sacrificing everything even their life too.. How mean u r @sachin_rt
Send ur son To Army thn only u’ll realize the loss #JaiHind

— Indrani 🇮🇳 Bharat Mata ki Jai Vandematarm 🇮🇳 (@pandey_indrani) February 22, 2019

If we dont play against pak will it help india…. No not at all… It will rather help pak… And there is a chance of india getting a ban from icc… Dont bring cricket into politics… We have to rply pak in every field.. Baap baap hota hai

— ItsAMIT (@ImAmitSahani) February 22, 2019

You had one opportunity to tell a generation that looks up to you that nation comes above everything, no sport can be played over the blood of our brothers.But as some choose religion and politics over nation, you chose your game. You don’t deserve IAF uniform-A heartbroken fan

— Neethu🇮🇳 (@2friendstweet) February 22, 2019