Samiya Arzoo, the wife of Pakistan cricket team's fast bowler Hasan Ali, has denied reports of any threats being hurled to her family online following Pakistan's semi-final defeat against Australia during the T20 World Cup.
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.
Read more: Pakistani fans rally support for Hasan Ali despite Indian ‘plot’
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 faith and marrying 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
In my life moments of Hassan Ali , I need Shoaib Malik. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/hxCJs58pGJ
— Jawad (@sigmasxul) November 12, 2021
Taking to Instagram, Hasan Ali's wife clarified the situation. "Saw many tweets circulating from this fake account that I, Hassan and my daughter are getting threats from people of Pakistan, which is absolutely wrong," she wrote.
Samiya said that instead of any threats, the family received "tonnes of support" from Pakistani fans. "Please don't believe any such statement and don't follow any accounts on Twitter pretending to be me."
She further said that she was not on Twitter and urged her followers to report the accounts claiming to be her.
Also read: Celebrities praise Pakistani team following T20 loss against Aussies
Indian Twitter reaction claiming to be in support of Hasan 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.
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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