Pakistani cricketer, Rizwan's Gaza dedication ignites political firestorm in India

• Mohammed Rizwan, post-match dedication to the 'brothers and sisters in Gaza' stirred political controversy
• This dedication was made against the backdrop of the Israel-Palestine conflict
• BJP Spokesperson RP Singh criticized Rizwan's dedication, suggesting Pakistan's enduring support for terrorism

Mohammed Rizwan, Pakistan's wicket-keeper batsman, has become embroiled in a political controversy in India due to his post-match dedication to the 'brothers and sisters in Gaza.' This dedication was made against the backdrop of the Israel-Palestine conflict, which intensified following attacks by Hamas terrorists on Israel, leading to retaliatory actions in Gaza. Rizwan's gesture, coming after his record-breaking century against Sri Lanka, ignited a firestorm of debate and drew a strong response from Indian politicians.

BJP National Spokesperson RP Singh wasted no time in criticizing Rizwan's dedication, suggesting that it pointed to Pakistan's enduring support for terrorism. Singh raised a pointed question about why Rizwan hadn't chosen to dedicate his win to the Uyghur Muslims, who have faced allegations of persecution in China. BJP MLA Ram Kadam joined Singh in condemning Rizwan's comments, branding them as a 'symbol of Pakistan's mentality' that supports terror.

Despite Rizwan's sporting achievements, his dedication to Gaza drew significant attention and criticism on social media platforms. Netizens voiced concerns over what they perceived as a double standard in how political matters are treated in the context of international cricket. They called upon the International Cricket Council (ICC) to address this issue.

Is this allowed @ICC ? I remember Dhoni was asked to remove the Army insignia from his gloves during the World Cup 2019
Aren’t cricketers prohibited from making political and religious statements during ICC events? https://t.co/3k5uKf4mXH

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) October 11, 2023