Rizwan refused to delete pro-Palestine social media post, source
The ICC has previously ruled against players making political statements,
Rizwan had refused to delete a pro-Palestine social media post, a source claimed on Monday.
As reported, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan was asked by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to delete his social media post in which he dedicated the team’s historic win against Sri Lanka to the people of Palestine who are currently facing genocide at the hands of Israeli occupation.
However, Rizwan refused to do so.
As per the news source, the PCB was under pressure from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the social media post but Rizwan refused to delete it.
A day after his knock of 131 (not out) in the highest run chase ever in Cricket World Cup history, Rizwan on 11th October, dedicated his win to Palestine in a message shared on X-Platform.
This was for our brothers and sisters in Gaza. 🤲🏼
Happy to contribute in the win. Credits to the whole team and especially Abdullah Shafique and Hassan Ali for making it easier.
Extremely grateful to the people of Hyderabad for the amazing hospitality and support throughout.
— Muhammad Rizwan (@iMRizwanPak) October 11, 2023
The 31-year-old wicketkeeper batter’s support for the besieged Palestinians drew a backlash from cricket fans in India.
Indian fans asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to ban Rizwan for his “totally insane” post.
Another Indian fan criticised an “unbothered” BCCI for giving Pakistani cricketers “a platform for Palestine agenda” that would “instigate Indian supporters of Hamas and Palestine”.
On the other hand Indian journalist Sudhir Chaudhary wrote on X that: “This #ICCCricketWorldCup23 is not just cricket but also a battleground of political and religious ideology.”
Dear ICC , Please Ban @iMRizwanPak
This Is Totally Insane 😡😡😡😡 https://t.co/BVbo2nBTxY
— Vaibhav Bhola 🇮🇳 (@VibhuBhola) October 11, 2023
Pakistan cricketer and wicketkeeper batter Muhammad Rizwan dedicates his match winning century to the people of #Gaza
He also thanked the people of Hyderabad for supporting Pakistan.
This #ICCCricketWorldCup23 is not just cricket but also a battleground of political and… https://t.co/zMCxYw9svp— Sudhir Chaudhary (@sudhirchaudhary) October 11, 2023
On a number of occasions, the ICC has ruled against players making political statements, although they are free to use their own media platforms away from the field of play.
In 2014, the global governing body banned England all-rounder Moeen Ali from wearing wristbands saying “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine”.
In 2019, India’s MS Dhoni was ordered by the ICC to remove gloves with a controversial dagger logo – apparently a military symbol – in a World Cup game against Australia.
However, there seems little chance that the BCCI will take action over Mohammad Rizwan’s statement posted on X-Platform.
