Following massive backlash after Muhammad Rizwan’s social media post on the Israel-Palestine conflict, Pakistan cricket team players raised their voices against Israeli brutality and in support of Palestine.
The Men in Green including Shadab Khan, Muhammad Nawaz, Osama Mir and Haris Rauf, currently in India for the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023, posted the Palestinian flag on microblogging website X.
A few days ago, Pakistan’s national cricket team wicket-keeper batsman, Muhammad Rizwan, posted a tweet expressing his support for Palestine. This tweet generated significant attention in India, although the International Cricket Council (ICC) has declined to take any action regarding it, citing that the tweet related to Gaza falls outside of their jurisdiction.
It’s worth noting that the national cricket team is currently in India to participate in the World Cup 2023. The controversy surrounding Muhammad Rizwan's tweet comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Following an attack by Hamas on October 7, Israel initiated a military operation in Gaza, resulting in the targeting of residential buildings, schools, hospitals, and offices of international organizations.
Tragically, around 3,500 Palestinians have lost their lives in the bombings carried out by Israeli forces. In a particularly distressing incident, over 500 people, including doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, injured individuals, and their families, were reported to have lost their lives in an attack on a hospital in Gaza. This ongoing conflict has drawn international attention and raised concerns about the humanitarian situation in the region.
This is how the cricketers have reacted;
☮️ ☮️ ☮️ ☮️ pic.twitter.com/r8E31Jsfya
— Shadab Khan (@76Shadabkhan) October 18, 2023
☮️ ✌🏻 pic.twitter.com/vPjUEnKU6E
— Usama Mir (@iamusamamir) October 18, 2023
— Haris Rauf (@HarisRauf14) October 18, 2023
🤲🤲🤲🤲 pic.twitter.com/2hH4Gjmyhn
— Muhammad Nawaz (@mnawaz94) October 18, 2023
