After guiding Pakistan to a record run chase against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, Pakistani star batsman Mohammad Rizwan put out a controversial post on microblogging platform X dedicating his unbeaten 131-run knock to the people of Gaza.Pakistans wicketkeeper-batsman wrote on X, “This was for our brothers and sisters in Gaza. Happy to contribute to the win. Credits to the whole team and especially Abdullah Shafique and Hassan Ali for making it easier. Extremely grateful to the people of Hyderabad for the amazing hospitality and support throughout”.This was for our brothers and sisters in Gaza. 🤲🏼Happy to contribute in the win. Credits to the whole team and especially Abdullah Shafique and Hassan Ali for making it easier.Extremely grateful to the people of Hyderabad for the amazing hospitality and support throughout.— Muhammad Rizwan (@iMRizwanPak) October 11, 2023 Rizwan also praised the young batter Abdullah Shafique, who scored his maiden ODI World Cup hundred, and allrounder Hassan Ali for making the run chase easier. Rizwan also thanked the Hyderabad people for their hospitality and support.Following the Pakistani batters controversial post on X, many social media users tagged and questioned the International Cricket Council (ICC) on granting permission to make a political statement during an ICC tournament. Netizens called for a ban on Mohammad Rizwan for his controversial post.In the past, the ICC has been very strict regarding players making political statements during any ICC tournaments.Players involved in political controversiesEarlier, Moeen Ali was banned by the ICC in 2014, from wearing Save Gaza and Free Palestine wristbands in the third test match against India in Southampton.However, the England and Wales Cricket Board cleared Moeen Ali to wear the headbands, arguing that he was making a humanitarian statement and not a political statement.MS Dhoni was also involved in a controversy for wearing the Balidan badge which is the Special Forces badge, on his wicket-keeping gloves.Citing ICC regulations, the top cricket body asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to remove the badge from Indian wicketkeeper and former captain Mahendra Singh Dhonis gloves, in 2019.However, the ICC has not made any official statement on Rizwans post on social media. The PCB has denied giving any clarification on the post, so far.
