Ravichandran Ashwin seems to be deeply affected by banned Australian cricketer Steve Smith's tearful press conference on Thursday.
The cricketing world has been in a sombre mood ever since visuals of former Australian captain Steve Smith crying broke out on Thursday.
Speaking at a press conference in Sydney after returning from South Africa, Smith couldn't hold back his tears while apologising for his part in the recent ball-tampering scandal.
Among the many cricketers, past and present, who have lent their support to Smith after watching the modern-day great in tears is Ravichandran Ashwin.
The ace Indian off-spinner took to Twitter on Friday to share his views on the entire matter. Ashwin wrote about how today's world 'simply wants to see you cry' and lacks 'empathy'.
"The world simply wants to see you cry, once you have cried they will feel satisfied and live happily ever after," lamented Ashwin while expressing solidarity with the disgraced Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.
Ashwin hoped the Australian cricketers can put the ball-tampering scandal behind them. "If only Empathy was not just a Word and people still had it. God give @stevesmith49 and Bancroft all the strength to come out of this," tweeted Ashwin. "And @davidwarner31 will also need the strength to fight it out, hopefully their players union will provide them with all the support," he added.
Here are his tweets
Smith broke down repeatedly at his arrival press conference in Sydney Airport and said he was "truly sorry" for his actions.
Cricket Australia banned Warner and Smith for one year while Cameron Bancroft was handed a nine-month suspension after all three admitted to ball-tampering in the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town.
The infamous incident also led to Darren Lehmann stepping down as Australia coach after the fourth Test in Johannesburg.
The players' confession triggered a massive public outcry in Australia, leaving even Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull "deeply disappointed".
A wave of sympathy for Smith gathered pace after his heart-wrenching apology and as opposition grew to the severity of bans handed out in the ball-tampering scandal.
(Inputs from PTI)
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