- Monday, April 21, 2025
Mohammad Rizwan’s tweet was critcised by many social media users who asked him to concentrate on cricket and not world politics.
By: Shubham Ghosh
PAKISTAN wicket-keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan on Tuesday (10) left the social media divided by dedicating his country’s record-breaking victory over Sri Lanka in the ongoing 50-over World Cup in Hyderabad to the “brothers and sisters in Gaza” amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant outfit Hamas that has killed several thousands and left trails of wanton destruction.
“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,” Rizwan, who scored a match-winning 131 not out as Pakistan successfully chased down a mammoth target of 345, something that has not happened ever in the 48-year-old history of the quadrennial tournament.
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
Rizwan, who added 176 runs for the third wicket with Abdullah Shafique, the other Pakistan centurion (108), to make it easier for the Men in Green to win their second consecutive match in the tournament, was adjudged the player of the match.
However, while his effort with the bat despite facing cramps earned him applause, many social media users advised Rizwan to concentrate on cricket and not on world politics. Some said India cricketers would never make such remarks.
It may be mentioned here that while Pakistan has expressed support for the Palestinians in their clash with Israel, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi openly extended his solidarity with the latter and told his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu during a telephonic call on Tuesday that the people of India stood firmly with Israel.
Devastating fighting broke out between the two sides after Hamas carried out coordinated rocket attacks on Israel on Saturday (7).
Hamas has also taken several Israeli citizens as hostages and threatened to kill them in the wake of Israel imposing a total seize on the Gaza Strip which is controlled by the Palestinian outfit.
One user reacted to Rizwan saying, “Rizwan try to focus on cricket.”
How will a century or a win help them in Gaza? Instead, you and entire Pak team should donate all kinds of earnings, whether it's match fees, awards, endorsements, etc., from the World Cup to Palestinians. That would be genuine assistance. Otherwise this tweet is just hogwash.
— THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) October 11, 2023
@BCCI must ban any such political utterances , push then back to Pakistan or Palestine, wherever they wish to go
— Sandiiip (@IndiaUnleashed_) October 11, 2023
“How will a century or a win help them in Gaza? Instead, you and entire Pak team should donate all kinds of earnings, whether it’s match fees, awards, endorsements, etc., from the World Cup to Palestinians. That would be genuine assistance. Otherwise this tweet is just hogwash,” another user said.
