In a recent social media post, Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Rizwan expressed his dedication of his remarkable century in the 2023 World Cup match against Sri Lanka to the 'brothers and sisters in Gaza.' This reference alludes to the ongoing crisis involving Israel and Hamas.
The cricket encounter saw Pakistan successfully pursuing a target of 345 runs against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad. The victory was largely attributed to the outstanding performances of Mohammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique, with Rizwan amassing 131 runs from 121 deliveries.
Taking to X, Mohammad Rizwan conveyed, "This was for our brothers and sisters in Gaza. Happy to contribute to the win. Credits to the entire team, particularly Abdullah Shafique and Hassan Ali for facilitating it. I am immensely thankful to the people of Hyderabad for their incredible hospitality and unwavering support throughout."
The response to Mohammad Rizwan's statement on social media generated a mixed range of reactions. Some users opined that Rizwan should concentrate solely on cricket and abstain from delving into global political matters.
Certain individuals on the internet criticized Rizwan's X post, questioning the impact of a social media message on the situation in Gaza. One user suggested an alternative approach, stating, "How will a century or a win help them in Gaza? Instead, you and the entire Pak team should donate all kinds of earnings, whether it's match fees, awards, endorsements, etc., from the World Cup to Palestinians. That would be genuine assistance. Otherwise, this tweet is just hogwash."
Another user humorously commented in Hindi, "So, does this mean that by Pakistan's win in one cricket match, Gaza will defeat Israel in the war?"
Moreover, there were accusations against Rizwan for not speaking out about Hamas' attacks on Israel. One user expressed disapproval, asserting, "You didn’t utter a single word when Israel was attacked, and so many lost their lives?? Shame on you for this tweet."
The conflict between Israel and Hamas terrorists had entered its fifth day as of Wednesday. The combined casualty count resulting from Hamas' unprecedented assault on Israel and the ensuing retaliatory air strikes in Gaza had surpassed 3,000.
Israel was reportedly preparing to intensify the offensive by launching a ground operation in Gaza, in addition to the ongoing air raids. The Israeli Army had commenced the mobilization of its forces in southern Israel, and further reserve forces were summoned, along with heavy military equipment.
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