ODI World Cup 2023: Pakistani presenter Zainab Abbas deported from India over 'safety concerns'

Pakistan sports presenter Zainab Abbas left India on Monday due to security concerns, just before the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. While in India to cover the 2023 World Cup her visit took an unexpected turn when an Indian lawyer filed a complaint accusing her of making derogatory remarks on social media against India and Hinduism, as reported by Samaa TV. Zainab denies the allegations, stating that she has been unfairly targeted. Notably, Indian lawyer Vineet Jindal officially filed the complaint, focusing on a series of old tweets resurfaced on X, formerly known as Twitter.

 On October 5, Vineet Jindal who is a lawyer practicing in the Supreme Court of India, filed a cyber complaint against Zainab. This legal action followed the circulation of alleged old posts from the 35-year-old's X (formerly Twitter) account, perceived as "anti-Hindu" and "anti-India." The lawyer claimed these offensive tweets, dating back approximately nine years, were originally shared under the username "Zainablovesrk." Zainab has since updated her X account to "ZAbbas Official," which remains her active profile.

Vineet shared a copy of the complaint, accusing Zainab of derogatory remarks about Hindu faith and beliefs, as well as anti-Bharat statements. The lawyer also tagged the Indian Cricket Board (ICB) and the Apex Cricket Council (ACC), urging her removal from the list of presenters in the ongoing cricket event.

Complaint against @ZAbbasOfficial filed by Advocate & Social Activist @vineetJindal19 with cyber cell Delhi Police.Requesting to lodge FIR under section 153A,295,506,121 IPC and sec67 IT Act for making derogatory remarks for Hindu faith and beliefs and for anti -Bharat… https://t.co/vctiV98wBT pic.twitter.com/f9C6I0OMuD

— Adv.Vineet Jindal (@vineetJindal19) October 5, 2023

Pakistan fans and journalists are still awaiting visas to attend and cover their team's matches

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is still awaiting visa clearance for its media contingent and fans to attend the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. Despite playing their opening match against the Netherlands at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Pakistani journalists and fans were notably absent.

Only Mohammad Bashir who is known as Bashir Chacha, represented Pakistani fans. Around 60 journalists have applied for Indian visas, and the PCB has communicated the visa delay to the ACC. The Ministry of External Affairs declined to comment. Pakistan is scheduled to face Sri Lanka on October 10 in Hyderabad and India on October 14 in Ahmedabad.