Mohammad Rizwan, the wicketkeeper-batsman for Pakistan, has drawn criticism and online trolls since he dedicated his team’s historic victory over Sri Lanka in Hyderabad to “brothers and sisters in Gaza,” the Hamas-controlled territory that had recently attacked Israel.
Rizwan expressed his sentiments on X, saying, “This was for our brothers and sisters in Gaza. Happy to contribute to 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’s gesture of solidarity with Gaza however has sparked angry reactions from fans, with some interpreting it as support for Hamas. Many expressed their strong disapproval on social media. It is also worth noting that Rizwan’s tweet appears to be in violation of the code of conduct established by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which has strict rules regarding cricketers making political and religious statements.
