Complaint letter calls for Mitch Marsh to be handed ‘lifetime ban’ from India

An image of Aussie Mitch Marsh with the World Cup trophy has ruffled feathers with a leaked letter showing how far outrage has gone.

Mitch Marsh remains public enemy number one in India following Australia’s World Cup victory.

The Aussie all-rounder came under attack after an image of him resting his feet on top of the trophy was posted online on Monday (AEDT).

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The photo was posted by well known cricket social media identity Mufaddal Vohra to his more than 750,000 followers with the caption “Mitchell Marsh with the World Cup”.

Posted about 12 hours after Australia’s victory, it has now been viewed over 4.1 million times with angry fans labelling Marsh’s pose “disrespectful”.

“Very Disrespectful,” one fan wrote. “ICC must take action against Marsh.”

“No respect for the trophy, that’s Australia for you,” was another stinging comment.

The move which angered an entire country.

Now things have gone to a whole new level after it was revealed a complaint was lodged against Marsh.

The complaint letter, sent to the Prime Minister and the Sports Ministry from a furious cricket fan, reportedly stated Marsh’s actions had offended Indian cricket fans

The letter demanded the star be “handed a lifetime ban from cricket” in India.

“By putting his feet on something that Indians consider sacred [the trophy], Marsh has disrespected both religious and cultural sentiments of the nation,” the complaint letter stated according to The Quint.

An FIR was lodged against Australian cricketer #MitchellMarsh in Aligarh, UP

The complaint was filed by RTI activist Pandit Keshav, alleging that Marsh's actions of dropping legs on the World Cup trophy had offended the sentiments of Indian cricket team fans

He also forwarded a… pic.twitter.com/mxNXGBBBqi

— Daily Culture (@DailyCultureYT) November 24, 2023

But it wasn’t just fans who were left seeing red over the image with Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami also taking offence.

Shami voiced his disapproval when speaking with reporters on Friday after he finished the World Cup as the leading wicket taker with 24.

“I am hurt,” he said.

“The trophy for which all the teams in the world fight, the trophy which you want to lift over your head, keeping a foot on that trophy did not make me happy.”

Marsh, who scored 441 runs at 49.00 during the World Cup, was asked about the now iconic photo after he touched down in Melbourne earlier this week.

Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Marsh and Andrew McDonald, pose with the trophy. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

“It’s got a bit of legs that photo, hasn’t it?” he joked.

“Pardon the pun.”

Marsh had no idea of the backlash the image had created and quickly sidestepped the issue as he turned his attention to Australia’s upcoming Test series against Pakistan.

“It’s been a crazy 48 hours, but it’s nice to be back on home soil,” Marsh said.

“Tools down for a while, get home, see the family, relax, and then try and get ready for a big summer.”

The first Test between Australia and Pakistan starts at Perth Stadium on Thursday, December 14.

Originally published as Complaint letter calls for Mitch Marsh to be handed ‘lifetime ban’ from India