Cricket drama is truly unique. Indian Twitter users highlighted a slew of negative social media posts, allegedly by the Pakistani fans, about Hasan Ali, whose costly mistake in the field allowed Matthew Wade to secure Australia's thrilling victory in the Twenty20 World Cup semi-final on Thursday.
Having conceded 44 runs in four wicketless overs, Hasan had more disappointment to face in the dramatic closing stages of the see-saw match at the Dubai International Stadium.
Needing 22 runs off the second last over, Wade's wild swing at Shaheen Afridi's third ball sent a skier towards Hasan who spilled the catch on the leg-side. Wade responded by hitting three sixes in a row to complete an excellent chase against the tournament's form side.
Also read: Celebrities praise Pakistani team following T20 loss against Aussies
A section of Indian media and Twitter users claimed that Pakistani fans posted negative and abusive comments on Ali’s social media accounts, allegedly abusing the pacer on the basis of his religious background and marrying to an Indian woman. Thus, a battle of positivity against negativity ensued on Pakistani Twitter.
I wholeheartedly back up this Team & this team also includes Hassan Ali! It happens.. pic.twitter.com/K8JzQ1SWAp
— Ammara Qazi (@Ammara_Kazi) November 11, 2021
India’s disinformation machine trying too hard to make it a sectarian issue.
— Hussain Nadim (@HNadim87) November 12, 2021
The entire country stands with Hassan Ali. pic.twitter.com/SX4d4uHZ6q
This is not true. Hassan Ali is not Shia. No one is attacking him for his faith. Sad to see this blatant disinformation from India pic.twitter.com/o4Gc0fydLW
— Ailia Zehra (@AiliaZehra) November 12, 2021
The form we needed today.#hassan_ali #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/WX9wM2cOmN
— Fakhruu :^) 🇵🇰🏏 (@BajwaKehtaHaii) November 12, 2021
In my life moments of Hassan Ali , I need Shoaib Malik. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/hxCJs58pGJ
— Jawad (@sigmasxul) November 12, 2021
Twitter user Samiya claimed to have found some interesting data on Facebook regarding the percentage of positive tweets versus negative ones.
“Found this on Facebook. Hasan Ali was trending on Twitter so someone ran a sentiment analysis to understand what people are saying about him and here is the result. This is Pakistan for you all. We don’t set fire on grounds, we stand by our players.”
Found this on Facebook.
— Samiya🕊️🇵🇰 (@oyeesamiyahun) November 12, 2021
Hassan Ali was trending on Twitter. So someone ran a sentiment analysis to understand what are people talking about and here is the result. majority is in support of him.
This is #Pakistan for you all.
We don't set fire in grounds. We stand by our players pic.twitter.com/QDYLx6zHO3
I Want To Hug Every Single Pakistani Team Member Right Now.. And Let Them Know We All Love You !! And We Are Proud Of You..!! Specially Hassan Ali ❤️🇵🇰#IStandWithHasanAli pic.twitter.com/gELhZQQ8vO
— T.Writes🇵🇰 (@TWrites11) November 11, 2021
Verified user, Abdullah Saad highlighted Indians’ efforts to stir up controversy.
“Indian RW accounts really pushing for a coordinated disinformation campaign from verified accounts (so real people being asked to push for this narrative willingly partaking) on Hassan Ali Ignoring them is one thing but Pak media and Gov accounts need to respond back.”
Indian RW accounts really pushing for a coordinated disinfo campaign, from verified accounts (so real people, being asked to push for this narrative, willingly partaking) on Hassan Ali. Ignoring them is one thing but Pak media and Gov accounts need to respond back.
— Abdullah Saad (@kursed) November 12, 2021
Pakistani journalist Ihtisham ul Haq responded to a tweet by Indian journalist Anand Ragnathan emphasising the mistreatment of Indian players by Indian Twitter users after they lost their match against Australia.
“First of all, Hassan Ali is not Shia. Secondly, show me a single tweet where a Pakistani has targeted Hassan or his wife. We aren’t like you guys that target women. You’ve targeted a 10-month-old child. Hassan Ali is a champion, he fought for us as he did in 2017.”
First of all, Hassan Ali is not Shia. Secondly, show me a single tweet where any Pakistani has targeted Hassan or his wife. We aren’t like you guys that targets women. You’ve targeted a 10 months old child. Hassan Ali is a champion, he fought for us like he did in 2017. pic.twitter.com/iCYA1lI2QT
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) November 12, 2021
Indian Twitter however was abuzz claiming that Hasan Ali was being targeted because he belonged to a specific school of thought and is married to an Indian woman.
BJP spokesperson SG Suryah tweeted, “We are very pained to know that Pakistani Cricketer Hassan Ali is being targeted for being a Shia Muslim and also because he married an Indian Samiya Arzoo. Pakistan’s intolerance and hatred is despicable. I hope @ImranKhanPTI gives enough security.”
We are very pained to know that #Pakistan Cricketer #HasanAli(@RealHa55an) is being targeted for being a #Shia Muslim & also because he married an #Indian Samiya Arzoo. Pakistanis' intolerance & hatred is despicable & I hope @ImranKhanPTI gives enough security. #INDwithHasanAli pic.twitter.com/vyTtNMsuNe
— SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) November 11, 2021
Many even poked fun at the Indian attempt to stir up a controversy.
Sabeel se sharbat aur juloos se biryani bhi pic.twitter.com/pMP1CfSt5l
— Asad Sultan (@AsadSultan18) November 12, 2021
Hassan Ali: But I'm not Shia.
— F 🦋 (@fatimabashir211) November 12, 2021
Indians: pic.twitter.com/GatdmW7I2n
Indian Twitter reaction claiming to be in support of Hassan Ali was especially ironic considering the vile treatment with which their players Mohammed Shami and Virat Kohli were subjected to after their defeat against Pakistan earlier in the tournament.
Mohammad Shami is an Indian cricketer; a bowler. These are comments on his IG right now, with people claiming he took money from Pakistan that he was playing for Pakistan and helped India lose because he is a Muslim. https://t.co/a9ZK5BEojF
— Sana Saeed (@SanaSaeed) October 24, 2021
Tweets claiming that Shami lost because Pakistan bribed him and because he was a secret Pakistani circulated on Indian Twitter. When Virat Kohli voiced his support for Mohammed Shami, he was met with threats of sexual assault to his 10-month-old daughter.
Kohli and Anushka’s 10-month-old daughter is getting rape threats because he decided to stand by his Muslim teammate, call out bigotry, and say discrimination on the basis of religion is wrong.
— Andre Borges (@borges) October 31, 2021
A 10-month-old child.
This is the India that we let happen.
This makes me want to puke. Rape threats to a toddler from the RW because @imVkohli did the decent thing called out bigotry & supported his teammate. These bigots belong in jail pic.twitter.com/WaTLjIQCDb
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) October 31, 2021
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