Left India because I was scared, wasn't deported, says Pak sports presenter Zainab Abbas

Pakistani sports presenter Zainab Abbas has rshed light on her sudden departure from the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 in India and her return to Pakistan.

What

Zainab Abbas, who left India unexpectedly, took to social media to explain the circumstances of her sudden exit. She expressed feeling 'intimidated and scared' by the unsettling events 'unfolded on social media'.

• Abbas, a member of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) digital team, departed her post in Hyderabad after Pakistan's first two matches.

• She was part of the World Cup 2023 broadcast team in India and left the country earlier this week following a complaint filed in New Delhi.

• A lawyer had accused her of posting "derogatory" tweets about the Hindu faith in the past.

• The complaint was based on 2014 tweets from an account using Abbas' name on X, formerly known as Twitter.

• Despite local media speculations suggesting she was forced to depart or deported, she denied such claims.

Regarding her apology

Before India's highly-anticipated showdown with Pakistan on Saturday, Zainab Abbas shared a written apology via X, unveiling the true cause of her departure from India during the World Cup.

In her post, she penned a lengthy apologetic statement, in which she stated:

• Zainab was extremely grateful for the opportunities to travel and represent her beloved sport.

• She emphasized that her interactions during her short stay in India were "cheerful" and "kind".

• Zainab refuted rumors of being deported due to her past comments, asserting that she left India voluntarily.

• She said that she began to feel "intimidated" and "scared" due to the social media backlash to her previous remarks. After consulting with friends and family, she made the decision to depart from India.

• Zainab expressed regret for any discomfort caused by the tweets that were "circulated" regarding India and emphasized that these tweets do not reflect her genuine beliefs.