The recent departure of Pakistani anchor Zainab Abbas from India amid the ongoing 11th edition of the ODI World Cup has sparked a whirlwind of controversy. Initial reports from Pakistan’s Sama TV claimed that Abbas had been removed from the World Cup and deported from India. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has refuted these allegations, stating that Zainab left India due to personal reasons.
The Pakistani cricket team, led by Babar Azam, has commenced its World Cup journey on a positive note, defeating the Netherlands in their opening match. The team is slated to face Sri Lanka in Hyderabad on October 10. Amidst this backdrop, the news of Zainab Abbas’s departure has added an unexpected twist to the narrative.
According to Sama TV, Zainab Abbas was accused of making derogatory remarks about India and Hindu deities on social media, leading to her withdrawal from the tournament. She was part of the ICC’s broadcast team and was seen in the stadium during Pakistan’s first match against the Netherlands. The channel further claimed that even the ICC would be powerless to intervene as the issue is a matter of dispute between countries.
Contradicting these reports, an ICC spokesperson told news agency PTI that Zainab had not been deported but had left due to personal reasons. She had arrived in Hyderabad last week and was scheduled to travel to various cities where Pakistan would be playing, including Bangalore, Chennai, and Ahmedabad.
Several news outlets have covered this unfolding drama. WION reported that Zainab Abbas was deported after a Delhi-based lawyer filed a complaint against her for making derogatory remarks against the Hindu faith in old social media posts. The Telegraph mentioned that Abbas left her role amid a storm over alleged “derogatory” historic social media posts.
Zainab Abbas has been a prominent figure in the cricketing world for quite some time. She has hosted numerous major tournaments and is a dedicated professional. Apart from her role as a cricket anchor, she has also worked as a makeup artist. Her father, Nasir Abbas, has been a cricketer, and she enjoys a fan following in several countries, including Pakistan.
The situation remains complex, with conflicting reports and statements adding to the confusion. While the ICC has clarified its stance, the controversy has raised questions about the freedom of the press and the role of social media in shaping public opinion, especially in the context of an international sporting event like the ODI World Cup.
The departure of Zainab Abbas from India and the ensuing controversy have undeniably cast a shadow over the ongoing World Cup, adding another layer of complexity to the already charged atmosphere surrounding the tournament. As the cricketing world continues to focus on the matches, the off-field drama involving Zainab Abbas serves as a poignant reminder of the intricate interplay between sports, politics, and media in today’s globalized world.
