Lucknow Super Giants fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq's social media post has gone viral just a day after controversy erupted over team owner Sanjiv Goenka's angry conversation with skipper KL Rahul. The cameras caught Goenka having a fiery conversation with Rahul after LSG slumped to a 10-wicket loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad and the episode led to massive criticism both from fans online and from various experts. Naveen posted a picture of himself with KL Rahul in Lucknow Super Giants colours with just a 'heart' emoji. While there was no direct connection with the entire episode, a lot of fans online thought that the post can be a show of support towards KL Rahul in the entire incident.
Earlier, Indian cricket team fast bowler Mohammed Shami weighed in on the topic and said that such behaviour from an IPL team owner sends a 'bad message'.
"Crores of people are watching you and learning from you. If these things happen in front of cameras, and you see such reactions on screen, it's shameful," Shami said on 'Cricbuzz Live'.
"Aapka ek dayra hona chahiye baat karne ka, yeh message bahut galat jaata hai. (You should have boundaries, there's a way to talk. This sends a very wrong message)."
Shami also said that it should not have been a public incident and the conversation could have taken place inside the dressing room.
"It's very important to note that players have respect, and you are a respectful person too, as an owner. It's not that you're talking suddenly," Shami said.
"If you have to do that, there are many different ways. You could've done the same thing in the dressing room or the hotel. It wasn't necessary to do it on the field. Aise reaction de ke koi lal quile pe jhanda toh gaad nahi diya aapne (you didn't hoist a flag on Red Fort by doing what you did)," Shami said.