New Delhi: The gesture of Pakistan's wicket-keeper batsman, Mohammad Rizwan, after the victory against Sri Lanka in the ODI World Cup—conveying a message of solidarity with the Gaza victims in the ongoing conflict with Israel—has been questioned by the BJP, who equated it with Pakistan's mentality towards terrorism.
In a tweet following the victory, Rizwan dedicated the win to the "brothers and sisters in Gaza”. However, BJP National Spokesperson RP Singh and BJP MLA Ram Kadam labelled Rizwan's comments as a "symbol of Pakistan's mentality that supports terror."
BJP leaders accused Rizwan of aligning Pakistan with terrorism, suggesting that the dedication to Gaza reflects the nation's historical support for extremist activities.
He also questioned why Rizwan did not dedicate the win to the Uyghur Muslims facing alleged human rights abuses in China. Singh emphasized that Rizwan's gesture exposed what he believed to be Pakistan's selective approach to global issues.
Despite Rizwan's stellar performance in the match, where he scored an unbeaten century and contributed to a historic 176-run partnership for the third wicket, the focus has shifted to the perceived political implications of his dedication.
Social media exploded with reactions, with netizens questioning the International Cricket Council (ICC) for its stance on political matters in cricket. Some argued that Rizwan's dedication highlights a potential double standard in how the ICC handles such instances, sparking a broader conversation on the intersection of sports and politics.