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Why Are Players Wearing Black Armbands In India Vs England 1st Test At Headingley?

Sakshi Sharma

Players are wearing black Armbands (Source: AP)Players are wearing black Armbands (Source: AP)

In a significant development, players and officials from both India and England observed a minute’s silence and also wore black armbands at Headingley on Friday (June 20), paying tribute to the victims of the tragic Ahmedabad air disaster. 

The tribute, observed by players, match officials, coaching staff, and the crowd, reflected the grief of both countries following the fatal crash on June 12. A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The tragedy claimed the lives of 181 Indian nationals and 53 British citizens. 

The aircraft involved in the crash lost control minutes after takeoff and tragically struck a residential hostel block attached to the B.J. Medical College in Ahmedabad’s Meghaninagar area. The crash resulted in significant destruction on the ground. Reports confirm that only one person is believed to have miraculously survived the crash. 

Symbolic Gestures Of Respect

At the time of the toss, both captains, Shubman Gill and Ben Stokes, were seen wearing black armbands. Ahead of the match, in a press conference, Rishabh Pant also expressed deep grief. 

“All of India is heartbroken by what happened,” Pant told the media. “We hope to bring a little joy to our people by playing hard and making them proud. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims.”

Notably, similar tributes were observed in the recent Intra-squad match between India and India A, as well as during the WTC Final between South Africa and Australia. Players from all teams donned black armbands, paying respect to the lives lost. 

India Set To Begin New WTC Cycle

This series will also mark a new chapter in the ICC WTC cycle. For India, this Test marks the beginning of a new era following the recent retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin. The leadership transition sees Shubman Gill step into the captain’s role, guiding a youthful side. 

England, under the leadership of Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, will aim to continue their aggressive brand of cricket.