Prominent Pakistan sports presenter, Zainab Abbas, has departed India following a series of controversies triggered by derogatory remarks made against the Hindu faith and its beliefs. Zainab Abbas had been a part of the commentary panel for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, which kicked off in Ahmedabad last week.
However, as of now, the global cricketing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
The turmoil began when Zainab’s old tweets, containing Hinduphobic (anti-religious) content, resurfaced and rapidly spread on social media. These tweets involved offensive language directed towards a Hindu goddess and disparaging comments targeting individuals of the Hindu faith.
In response, a Delhi-based lawyer named Vineet Jindal took action, filing a formal complaint against Zainab with the cyber cell of the Delhi Police.
In his complaint, Jindal requested the lodging of an FIR (First Information Report) against Zainab Abbas “under section 153A, 295, 506, 121 IPC, and section 67 of the IT Act” for her anti-Hindu remarks. He also tagged key cricketing authorities, including the International Cricket Council (ICC) and BCCI secretary Jay Shah, urging them to remove Zainab from the team of commentators for the ongoing ODI World Cup.
On Monday, Vineet Jindal returned to social media to share the latest developments in the case. He announced that Zainab Abbas had “reportedly” been deported from India. Furthermore, Jindal expressed gratitude to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Home Ministry (HMO) for their swift response to his complaint, resulting in Zainab’s departure from the country.
This incident serves as a reminder of the significant role social media plays in shaping public opinion and how past statements, even from years ago, can resurface and impact one’s career and reputation.
It also highlights the importance of addressing hate speech and offensive content on social media platforms to maintain a respectful and inclusive environment for all individuals and communities.