ISLAMABAD: An Indian lawyer has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to take “strict action” against Pakistani batter Muhammad Rizwan for offering prayers during a World Cup match in Hyderabad earlier this month and dedicating last week’s victory against Sri Lanka to the people of Palestine. 

Rizwan, widely regarded as one of the best wicket-keeper batters in limited overs cricket around the world, offered prayers during Pakistan’s opening match against the Netherlands on Oct. 6. He scored a century during Pakistan’s next match against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad, helping his team complete a record chase against the island nation, a victory he dedicated to “my brothers and sisters” in Palestine, currently facing unprecedented Israeli bombardment. 

“The act of Muhammad Rizwan when he read namaz on the cricket field amid many Indians is symbolic of the intentional depiction of his religion which stands against the spirit of the sports,” Indian lawyer Vineet Jindal said in a written complaint addressed to ICC Chair Greg Barclay on Oct. 14.

“The act of representation of his religion by Muhammed Rizwan in the field and further followed by his statement in his press conference regarding the dedication of his victory to the people of Gaza further attests to his religious and political ideology.” 

Jindal said he had sent a copy of the complaint to the cricket boards of Pakistan and India as well.

“International sports are conducted with the essence of developing an amiable relationship with countries worldwide irrespective of caste, creed, race, and religion and not to create or provoke enmity between communities,” Jindal wrote, saying Rizwan’s actions were against the ideology of India. 

“Therefore, it is requested to take strict action against Muhammed Rizwan, Wicket keeper and batsman of the Pakistan Cricket team.”

Jindal is the same lawyer who filed a complaint against Pakistani presenter Zainab Abbas earlier this month over “derogatory” tweets about Hinduism that the journalist had posted in 2014. Following the complaint, Abbas, who was in India as part of the ICC’s panel of presenters for the ongoing Cricket World Cup 2023, returned to Pakistan. She has since apologized for her posts and said she left India after feeling “intimidated and scared” due to the online reaction.

Meanwhile, Israel’s foreign ministry on Sunday celebrated India’s win against Pakistan in Saturday’s World Cup fixture, saying on X that the loss had kept Islamabad from possibly dedicating its victory to the “terrorists of Hamas.”

The tweet was in response to many Indian fans carrying posters in support of Israel at Ahmedabad for the match against Pakistan and India. Rizwan also faced backlash from fans in the bleachers for his support of Palestinians.

“We are happy that India emerged victorious in the #INDvsPAK match at #CWC23 and that Pakistan was unable to attribute its victory to the terrorists of #Hamas,” the post read.