ISLAMABAD: In a heartfelt gesture, Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Rizwan dedicated his team’s significant Cricket World Cup victory against Sri Lanka to the innocent people of Gaza, expressing solidarity with those affected by the ongoing Israeli airstrikes.
Rizwan, 31, shared his dedication on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, “This was for our brothers and sisters in Gaza. Happy to contribute to the win. Credits to the whole team and especially Abdullah Shafique and Hassan Ali for making it easier.” The post quickly gained traction, amassing 5.7 million views within hours.
Rizwan played a pivotal role in the match, scoring an unbeaten 131 runs, alongside opener Abdullah Shafique, who contributed 113 runs. Their partnership set the stage for Pakistan’s record-breaking chase of a challenging 345-run target, leading to a historic victory against Sri Lanka at Hyderabad on Tuesday.
This was for our brothers and sisters in Gaza. 🤲🏼
Happy to contribute in the win. Credits to the whole team and especially Abdullah Shafique and Hassan Ali for making it easier.
Extremely grateful to the people of Hyderabad for the amazing hospitality and support throughout.
— Muhammad Rizwan (@iMRizwanPak) October 11, 2023
Israel’s Relentless Airstrikes on Gaza
Despite the cricketing triumph, Rizwan’s dedication highlighted the sobering reality of the ongoing conflict. While Pakistan celebrated their sports victory, Israel continued its intense bombardment in Gaza, resulting in the destruction of residential and commercial buildings, leaving entire city blocks in rubble. Gaza officials reported a devastating toll, with over 1,000 people martyred in Israel’s relentless campaign of air and artillery strikes.
The conflict has also had a global impact, with more than 25 nations reporting their citizens being killed, abducted, or missing due to the violence. As Pakistan prepares for their upcoming match against arch-rivals India in Ahmedabad on Saturday, the dedication by Rizwan serves as a poignant reminder of the wider humanitarian crisis affecting Gaza and the need for international solidarity during these challenging times.
