Pat Cummins has been made Australia Cricket team’s ODI captain following Aaron Finch’s resignation from the post. The announcement came in the early hours of Tuesday, October 18th from Cricket Australia on their Twitter page.
While this news, should have been the highlight of Cummins’s day, his name has been doing the rounds on the internet for entirely different reasons altogether. The right-arm bowler has been engulfed in the controversy surrounding his stance on climate change and his drastic change of mind.
The debate is a result of Australia’s climate-crusading captain Pat Cummins’s objective to a $40 million sponsorship deal with power company Alinta Energy. Reportedly, Cummins was concerned about Alinta’s parent company, Pioneer Sail Holdings which was named one of Australia’s biggest carbon emitters.
The partnership between Cricket Australia and Alinta Energy was supposed to go on for another term after their four-year ends in 2022, but a reported pressure from Pat Cummins has allowed only a one-year contract extension between Alinta Energy and Cricket Australia.
Probably a stretch exactly what happened- Pat Cummins
Cummins however has denied such reports and said, “No, not at all. Nick, the CEO and I have a really good relationship. We talk about lots of things. But no, I’ve been a big supporter of all our partners over the last few years,” said Cummins.”
“I think it’s probably a stretch exactly what happened. I think it’s always been a balance. You’ve seen certain players make decisions based on religions or maybe certain foods they eat, they won’t partner specific partners,” said Cummins.
“But we really thank all our partners for everything they do for Cricket Australia and for grass roots supporting the game, and we know our responsibilities. We try and do our best.”
Australia’s new ODI captain however has been slammed by fans who think it is hypocritical of the cricketer to strong-arm Cricket Australi against Alinta Enegery after having received money from the same company a year ago.
Notably, Cummins appeared in Alinta Energy’s ad two years ago. The issue of Climate change has been gaining momentum as the climate in Australia continues to become unpredictable.
Just this week, Victoria and South Australia were submerged in an untimely flood. Even the India- Pakistan 20-20 World Cup match is in danger of being washed out.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Pat Cummins
Pat Cummins joins a long list of pathetic hypocrites in sport. Alinta Energy doesn’t “align” with him so he doesn’t want their sponsorship anymore. Ok now stop flying to cricket matches, stop playing cricket in big polluter India & stop driving the fossil-fuelled Range Rover.
— Catherine (@catherine___c) October 18, 2022
Pat Cummins has raised ‘ethical concerns’ with Cricket Australia over Alinta Energy’s sponsorship. GFY Pat. You were behind the sacking of JL. Now this! You will destroy the game here because you’re woke. Resign and take the rest with you.
— PROUD TRUCKIE (GLEN) (@KW9090909) October 17, 2022
I thought Julia Zemiro had the hypocrite of the week covered until Pat Cummins objected to Alinta Energy sponsoring the Aust cricket team. Is this the same Pat Cummins that was paid to appear in ads for Alinta Energy?
— Hank Meyer ?? (@HankMeyerNAPP) October 17, 2022
So , Pat Cummins won't accept Alinta sponsorship but will travel to India , the world's 2nd biggest emitter and accept 1.5million dollars from the IPL sponsor , a giant conglomerate that owns oil refineries? Honestly , this guy is a piece of hypocritical crap. Great bowler.
— Dragon Heart (@ObservationsG) October 18, 2022
The ACB made their bed when they bent over to Pat Cummins & his crew with JL now its coming back to haunt them! Alinta advise they will no longer sponsor the Oz cricket team! Howzthat Pat
— jeff (@vgoogh1) October 18, 2022
Pat Cummins is a hypocrite. He raised objection to Cricket Australia’s Alinta deal, but he appeared in a tv commercial for Alinta Energy. #CricketAustralia #Alinta #AlintaEnergy #Hypocrite
— Wes Mundy (@wescanroar) October 18, 2022
This is getting ridiculous. Pat Cummins pressured Cricket Australia to end Alinta sponsorship. These athletes travel around the world in planes which are high carbon emitters. A perfect example of left-wing hypocrisy. #CricketAustralia #AusSport #Alinta #Hypocrisy #ClimateChange
— Wes Mundy (@wescanroar) October 17, 2022
Bit like when Pat Cummins was happy to be in Alinta Energy commercials 2 years ago and now he's not
— Cox Plate Week ? (@TweetingSteve) October 18, 2022
And I just read Pat Cummins had a sook about Alinta sponsoring men’s cricket, $40m and now that’s over.
These sports and players need to get their hippy coffee shops to sponsor them.
See how long the sport lasts then— KR (@kr_1973) October 17, 2022
