Pakistan sports presenter Zainab Abbas has broken her silence regarding her abrupt departure from the 2023 World Cup currently taking place in India. Zainab, who is part of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) digital team, left India on Monday, raising questions about the reasons behind her early exit.
Notably, some initial media reports suggested that Zainab left India due to a social media backlash triggered by her past anti-India posts. These old posts from an unverified X account (formerly Twitter) surfaced and garnered attention once it was announced that she would be covering the prestigious cricket event in India. However, the ICC released a statement indicating that Zainab’s departure was due to personal reasons, distancing itself from the social media controversy.
Zainab reveals her side of the story
Just before the highly anticipated India-Pakistan cricket clash on Thursday, Zainab took to social media to address the situation. She issued a heartfelt and lengthy statement, shedding light on the real reason behind her early exit from India during the World Cup.
In her statement, Zainab expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to travel and present the sport she loves, highlighting the warm interactions she had experienced during her stay in India.
Zainab explained that although she was neither asked to leave nor deported, the online reaction to her presence in India became overwhelming. She admitted feeling intimidated and scared by the online backlash, which, while not an immediate threat to her safety, raised concerns among her family and friends on both sides of the border.
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“My daily interactions with everyone during my stay were kind, cheerful, and with a sense of familiarity – just as I had expected. I was neither asked to leave nor was I deported. 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,” Zainab wrote.
Zainab issues apology for social media posts
Zainab also acknowledged the hurt her old social media posts had caused and she emphasized that these posts did not reflect her values or her present self and offered an apology to anyone who may have been offended by them. In her concluding remarks, Zainab expressed her gratitude to those who had been concerned and supportive during this challenging period.
“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. Also, I am truly grateful to those who were concerned and reached out during this challenging time,” added Zainab.
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— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) October 12, 2023
