An Indian lawyer has filed a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batsman, Mohammad Rizwan, for praying on the field. This complaint is the second of its kind during the ongoing World Cup in India.
After scoring a match-winning century against Sri Lanka, he dedicated his performance to the people of Gaza in light of the Israel-Hamas conflict, sharing his sentiments on X (formerly Twitter). However, the ICC didn’t take any action regarding this matter and considered it acceptable.
Meanwhile, Vineet Jindal, an advocate of the Supreme Court of India, has lodged a new complaint against Mohammad Rizwan. In his formal complaint addressed to ICC Chairman Greg Barclay, he asserts, “This complaint pertains to the actions of Pakistan’s cricketer, Mohammad Rizwan, who was observed performing namaz on the cricket field during his team’s inaugural match in the ongoing ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023, which took place on Friday, October 6th, against the Netherlands in Hyderabad.”
The complaint further stated, “Mohammad Rizwan’s act of performing namaz on the cricket field in the presence of many Indians symbolizes a deliberate display of his religion, which contradicts the essence of sportsmanship.”
“This action by the player raises concerns about the true spirit of the game and calls into question the ideology he follows while participating in the match. Purposefully showcasing his religious affiliation, Mohammed Rizwan sends a message that he is a Muslim, which goes against the fundamental principles of sports. Rizwan was observed offering prayers on the field while his teammates awaited drinks during the break,” argued the lawyer.
Mohammad Rizwan’s display of his religion on the field, coupled with his statement in the press conference where he dedicated his victory to the people of Gaza, serves as additional evidence of his religious and political beliefs.”
The complainant also pointed out that, “Back in 2021, Rizwan had similarly prayed on the field. When Babar Azam’s team defeated India by 10 wickets in the ICC T20 World Cup ‘Super 12’ match, former Pakistani pace bowler Waqar Younis expressed his joy, saying, ‘What I admired most was what Rizwan did. He stood in the middle of the field and prayed in front of people of various faiths,’ referring to the 31-year-old Mohammad Rizwan using a cricket match as a platform to express his faith to a diverse global audience. Pakistani social media users also praised batsman Mohammad Rizwan for his on-field prayer during the game.”
Vineet Jindal has urged the ICC to impose severe penalties on Rizwan. Notably, he is the same lawyer who previously filed a complaint against Pakistan’s presenter, Zainab Abbas, for her alleged “anti-Hindu” remarks.
Abbas, who was working as a presenter for the ongoing ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 in India, departed from the country on October 9, and the international cricket body cited “personal reasons” for her decision.
