New Delhi, Oct 15: A complaint has been lodged with the International Cricket Council (ICC) by an Indian lawyer, targeting Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Rizwan’s on-field prayer. This incident marks the second complaint filed against Rizwan since the initiation of the World Cup in India.
During a remarkable century against Sri Lanka, Rizwan dedicated his performance to the people of Gaza amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict. Nonetheless, the ICC chose not to pursue any action against him, deeming his explanation satisfactory.
Furthermore, Pakistani sports presenter Zainab Abbas had to depart from India due to threats stemming from a first information report (FIR) linked to decade-old tweets.
Now, Vineet Jindal, an advocate of the Supreme Court of India, has submitted another complaint to the ICC regarding Rizwan. Jindal’s complaint highlighted the incident during the ongoing ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 when Rizwan offered namaz on the cricket field during Pakistan’s match against the Netherlands in Hyderabad.
Jindal’s complaint argued that Rizwan’s act of praying on the cricket field in front of Indian spectators was symbolic of the deliberate display of his religion, contravening the sportsmanship spirit. It raised concerns about the player’s motives and the message conveyed by his act of religious representation, which detracts from the spirit of sports.
The lawyer further pointed out that Rizwan’s statement dedicating his victory to the people of Gaza reinforces his religious and political ideology. Jindal recalled a similar incident in 2021 when Rizwan offered namaz on the field during the ICC T20 World Cup ‘Super 12’ game against India, drawing praise from Pakistani social media users.
Vineet Jindal called on the ICC to take stringent action against the Pakistani cricketer. The controversy surrounding Rizwan’s on-field religious displays continues to be a topic of debate, raising questions about the intersection of sports and personal beliefs within Indian realm.
(Source- Cricflocks)
