Keep cricket free from personal attacks: Sachin Tendulkar to fans after Arshdeep Singh's online abuse

Sachin Tendulkar on Tuesday backed Arshdeep Singh and urged the fans to keep cricket "free from personal attacks" after the young pacer faced vitriolic online abuse in the aftermath of India's five-wicket loss to Pakistan in the Asia Cup. The 23-year-old left-arm pacer was vehemently criticised and trolled on social media for spilling a catch in the crucial Super 4 clash against Pakistan in the Asia Cup in Dubai on Sunday.

Read AlsoAsia Cup 2022: Arshdeep Singh's parents say fans want the team to win, taking comments in a 'positive way'

Following India's five-wicket loss to Pakistan at the ongoing Asia Cup 2022, parents of pacer Arshdeep Singh offered words of support and encouragement to their son and the entire Indian team and added that the family is taking all the comments on the internet in a "positive way".

"Every athlete representing the country gives their best and plays for the nation always. They need our constant support & remember, that in sports you win some & you lose some. Let's keep cricket or any other sport free from personal attacks. @arshdeepsinghh keep working hard," Tendulkar tweeted.

".. and give the best reply by performing on the field. I am keenly following you. My best wishes." Arshdeep had dropped a catching chance at short third man off spinner Ravi Bishnoi's bowling in the 18th over to hand a life to Pakistan batter Asif Ali during a tricky chase. The pacer, however, quickly regained his composure and trapped Ali in front of wicket with a perfect yorker in the final over after senior pacer colleague Bhuvneshwar Kumar bled 19 runs in the penultimate over. However, such was the vitriol, that some fans hacked and edited Arshdeep's wikipedia page, adding the objectionable term "Khalistani" by