ICC Cricket World Cup: Zainab Abbas withdraws from India amid ‘safety concerns’

WEBDESK: Acclaimed Pakistani sports presenter Zainab Abbas, recently in India to cover the ICC World Cup, has reportedly left the country prematurely due to ‘safety concerns’, according to sources.

This follows allegations of her making ‘anti-Hindu’ remarks on social media platforms.

An official complaint has been lodged by Indian lawyer Vineet Jindal against Abbas, concerning a series of tweets posted approximately nine years ago from the username “Zainablovesrk.” These tweets, which have resurfaced on X (formerly known as Twitter), are alleged to contain content deemed “anti-Hindu.”

The account was later renamed to “ZAbbas Official,” which is Abbas’s currently active X profile.

The International Cricket Council (ICC), which appointed Zainab Abbas as the official presenter for the ICC Cricket World Cup, has issued a statement saying the Pakistani presenter left India for personal reasons.

Zainab Abbas is ‘humbled to be presenting in India’ at the ICC World Cup 2023

Sources close to Abbas argue that she’s been unjustly targeted, emphasizing that the old tweets were misconstrued. They contend that these past social media remarks have no bearing on her professional responsibilities and should not have necessitated her premature departure from India.

Zainab Abbas has arrived in Dubai after her exit from India.