In a recent twist to the story of Zainab Abbas, the renowned sports presenter known for promoting cultural ties between Pakistan and India, she has abruptly left India, citing ‘safety concerns.’ This decision comes in the wake of allegations surrounding her purported ‘anti-Hindu’ statements on social media.
Zainab Abbas was in India to cover the prestigious ICC World Cup, a role she was expected to perform with professionalism and impartiality. However, her stay in the country took an unexpected turn when an Indian lawyer, Vineet Jindal, filed a formal complaint against her. He accused her of making derogatory remarks on various social media platforms against India and the Hindu religion.
Zainab Abbas vehemently denied these allegations, maintaining that she has unjustly singled out and subjected to undue scrutiny. She asserts that her social media activity, particularly her tweets from years ago, taken out of context. These tweets, she argues, were unrelated to her role as a sports presenter and should not have been the basis for her deportation from India.
Pakistani sports presenter Zainab Abbas has safely exited India over "safety concerns" She is currently in Dubai; allegations involve #cybercrime and old anti-India tweets #ICCWorldCup2023 #IndiaPakistan #WorldCup2023 pic.twitter.com/DRWKMZs0qS— SAMAA TV (@SAMAATV) October 9, 2023
The controversy surrounding Zainab Abbas has also embroiled the International Cricket Council (ICC), which had chosen her as the official presenter for the ICC Cricket World Cup. Some sources suggest that the ICC faced challenges in preventing her deportation due to what they perceive as “Indian propaganda.”
Close sources to Zainab Abbas emphasized that she has falsely accused and that the focus on her past tweets is unwarranted. They contend that her intent and professional conduct as a sports presenter should be the key criteria for evaluating her suitability for the role.
At this juncture, the ICC has refrained from making an official statement on the matter.
Zainab Abbas, amidst these developments, has relocated to Dubai.
It is important to note that Vineet Jindal, the Indian lawyer who filed the complaint, specifically highlighted a series of old tweets that have resurfaced on a platform formerly known as Twitter, now referred to as “X.” These tweets, alleged to contain ‘anti-Hindu’ content, originally posted nearly nine years ago under the username “Zainablovesrk.” Her current active account on ‘X’ is under the handle “ZAbbas Official.”
This situation has garnered attention due to Zainab Abbas’s prominent role as the official presenter for the ICC Cricket World Cup, and it remains to seen how it will impact her career and the ongoing cultural exchanges between Pakistan and India.