In a highly anticipated ICC World Cup match, India secured a victory against arch-rivals Pakistan. However, the game was not without its share of controversy. A video from the Narendra Modi Stadium has gone viral, showing Indian fans shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans at Pakistani wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan as he walked back to the pavilion.
The incident occurred as Rizwan was making his way through the aisle after being bowled out by Indian pacer, Jasprit Bumrah. The Indian fans gathered along the stairway expressed their sentiments through verbal insults and the chant of ‘Jai Shri Ram’.
Fans in the Indian stadium also chanted slogans such as ‘Hum Tumhare Baap hen’ and ‘Naam Mitao Babar ka,’ which indirectly referenced the Babri Masjid demolition.
The response to the Rizwan incident has generated diverse opinions, with some individuals defending the actions of the crowd in Ahmedabad. Conversely, numerous other users have voiced their disapproval of the behaviour exhibited by Ahmedabad fans, pointing to past instances of Indian fans displaying good sportsmanship when engaging with their arch-rivals.
Before the India-Pakistan clash, Rizwan had been in excellent form on the field, scoring a half-century and a century in Pakistan’s previous matches against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka in the World Cup. However, off the field, the wicketkeeper-batsman found himself embroiled in controversy after taking to social media, dedicating Pakistan’s win against Sri Lanka to ‘brothers and sisters in Gaza.’
