ODI World Cup 2023: Check out why Pakistan sports presenter Zainab Abbas deport from India

Cricket fans around the world are thrilled with the excitement of the ongoing ODI World Cup, which is being held entirely in India for the first time. India, being a cricket-loving nation, is buzzing with enthusiasm for this grand event. The Pakistan cricket team has also arrived in India and received a warm welcome.

However, there’s a different story for Pakistan’s renowned sports presenter, Zainab Abbas. She has been deported from India due to a controversy surrounding her alleged anti-Hindu tweets. Abbas, who has a substantial following in the cricketing community, was in India to cover the ongoing ODI World Cup. But an Indian lawyer named Vineet Jindal filed a case against the 35-year-old presenter.

Some of Abbas’s old tweets resurfaced, which were deemed offensive by a section of the Indian public. These tweets contained derogatory remarks about Hinduism and sparked outrage on social media platforms. Jindal took notice of it and filed a complaint with the Indian Cricket Board against her.

“Complaint letter sent by @vineetJindal19 to @HMOIndia seeking removal of Zainab Abbas @ZAbbasOfficial as the presenter at the ODI World Cup 2023 for her derogatory and provocative posts against Bharat and Hindu Dharma. “Athiti devo bhava” is only for those who respect our country & Hindu Dharma but Anti Bharatiya are not welcome on Our Land.” a report was quoted as saying by the Free Press Journal.

Will Abbas face more consequences?

As the backlash grew, Indian authorities decided to take action, leading to Abbas’s deportation. The decision has been met with mixed reactions, with some supporting the move as a means of preserving religious harmony, while others (mostly Pakistan‘s fans) argue that it infringes on freedom of speech.

The incident underscores the ongoing discussion about the limits of free speech in the digital era and the difficulties confronted by public figures in a deeply interconnected world, where previous statements can resurface to create problems. Nevertheless, it is equally inappropriate to offend someone’s religious feelings, particularly those of people from a country to which you do not even belong.