Cricket World Cup: Pakistani presenter Zainab Abbas apologises to Indians for disparaging tweets

Pakistan's Zainab Abbas was in India until recently as part of the ICC digital team clarified that she 'was neither asked to leave nor deported'. She said she 'felt intimidated and scared by the reaction that was unfolding online' after her old posts surfaced.

India will take on Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday. (Express Photo by Nirmal Harindran)

Zainab Abbas' departure comes ahead of the India versus Pakistan clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday. (Express Photo by Nirmal Harindran)

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Pakistan’s Zainab Abbas, who was in India until recently as part of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) digital team, has clarified her abrupt departure to Pakistan and apologised to Indians for her old social media comments.

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With a few days of the Cricket World Cup starting, Zainab exited India on Monday. This led to rumours that she was deported or was sent back by her employers.

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A media report in Pakistani newspaper Dawn said that there was a “complaint filed in New Delhi by a lawyer, who accused her of posting derogatory tweets targeting the Hindu faith in the past.”

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“I was neither asked to leave nor was I deported,” she wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “However, I felt intimidated and scared by the reaction that was unfolding online. And even though there was no immediate threat to my safety, my family, and friends from both sides of the border were concerned. I needed some space and time to reflect on what had transpired.”

“I understand and deeply regret the hurt caused by the posts that were circulated. I wish to make clear that they do not represent my values or who I am as a person today. There is no excuse or space for such language, and I sincerely apologise to anyone who was offended,” she added.

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Zainab is a sports journalist and commentator since 2015, Abbas became the first woman sports reporter and commentator in 2019 to cover the cricket World Cup from Pakistan.

Reports said that advocate Vineet Jindal had also written to India’s Home Minister Amit Shah and his son Jay Shah, who is the chief of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

India will take on Pakistan in a crunch match on Saturday in Ahmedabad.