Australian players mourn death of their soldiers in Afghanistan

By BIPIN DANI



ABU DHABI (TheSportsNext) September 1, 2012: The Australian team wore blackarm bands and also observed a minute silence on the boundary rope before the start of play against Pakistan on Friday. This was to mark respect for the five soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan yesterday.

"I just wanted to let you know that the Australian team will wear black armbands in respect of the passing of the five Australian soldiers in Afghanistan. We will also hold a minute silence on the boundary rope before the start of play", Matt Cenin the Cricket Australia media manager said exclusively minutes before the commencement of the game. 


According to him, this may be the first instance when the players have decided to respect the death of soldiers.

"I don’t think this is something we’ve done in the past. Historically, black arm-bands have only been worn when a former Australian player has died or if someone close to one of the players or support staff has passed away", he further added.


Interestingly, the decision didn't involve the Australia's Embassy office in UAE. "The Embassy would not ask the Australian Cricket team to wear a black armband to mourn the 5 Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan", Kamal Did, the Senior Researcher & Public Diplomacy Officer, Australian Embassy, Abu Dhabi said exclusively.


"We in Australia, are all shocked and saddened to learn about this terrible news of the death of our soldiers, during the performance of their noble duty in Afghanistan. However the decision of the Cricket team wearing a black armband or doing a two minute silence, as a gesture of mourning the death, is up to the team management and the match organizer.", he further added.