To be sorry or not to be sorry: Zainab Abbas' old anti-India tweets divide the internet

Many Indians took to X and called out Abbas for her problematic take on their country and Hinduism

Pakistani female sports presenter, Zainab Abbas, was rather delirious with joy last week when she announced she would be presenting the ICC World Cup for the first time. 

However, soon after she reached India to take part in the ongoing Cricket World Cup, her old anti-India tweets resurfaced on social media. Many Indians took to the micro-blogging website and called out Abbas for her problematic take on their country and Hinduism. 

Abbas, however, had kept quiet on the matter. On Monday, it was reported that she has now been 'deported' from India. The host is currently in Dubai and vehemently denies the allegations, asserting that she has been unfairly singled out. The controversy surrounding Abbas' departure from India revolves around the re-emergence of these historical tweets and the subsequent complaint, fueling tensions and prompting security concerns for the sports presenter.

The social media users sure had their own thoughts. While some defended Abbas' 10-year-old tweets as a thing of the past, others feel she should've apologised right away. 

Zainab abbas should just replace the words in her old tweets with our religion and then lets see how forgiving pakistanis would be and how long will she stay here.

— Anas Tipu (@teepusahab) October 9, 2023

To add to this: people evolve and their bigoted & problematic stances change. However, when such statements are dug up (as they are: this is not a new phenomenon), it is your responsibility to apologize immediately. https://t.co/wDKsBvX9kf

— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) October 9, 2023

Just saw old tweets of Zainab Abbas, As wrong as the threats given to Zainab Abbass are you can not mock anyone’s religion, when Pakistanis don’t tolerate anything on their religion or practices someone else won’t either and the fact that she has returned safely says a lot.

— Zoha. (@zohaaa) October 9, 2023

While others felt the decision to 'deport' Abbas was unfair. 

Happy for Zainab Abbas for her safe return. Thoughts and prayers for women who are still living in India

— rants (@rantspakistani) October 9, 2023

Zainab Abbas leaving India bcs of threats just for some 9 years old tweet when she was prolly so young is so disappointing. She was SO excited for it. Is this how you treat your TV presenters? Sports should be irrespective of politics!

— c (@gayomarlic) October 9, 2023

"zainab abbas should apologise for her 10 year old tweets"
-person who abuses another religion to get passport every 5 years

— rants (@rantspakistani) October 9, 2023

That's absolutely pathetic & shameful from India to deport Zainab abbas
You shouldn't host World Cup at first place, if you're that much extremist, India proving to be worst hosts 👎 pic.twitter.com/3JlrojGGOg

— SAAD 🇵🇰 (@SaadIrfan258) October 9, 2023

Zainab Abbas's old tweets are stupid & offensive. But India running this whole WC like a spoilt petulant child, gatekeeping an International event, is insane. Take a book out of Qatar running the Football WC. No one was kept out BUT everyone was made to respect their religion.

— Khizra (@KhizM) October 9, 2023

The news of Zainab Abbas being deported is very sad. People need to understand that we do evolve and grow with time. I'm sure when she tweeted that stuff, she was just a cricket fan like we all are.

— 𝓢𝓮𝓱𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓱 🇵🇰 (@itsmeSehrish) October 9, 2023

Some weren't sure which side to tilt. 

Not sure what to make of the Zainab Abbas issue.
Ideally, India should have provided her security, and such a fuss shouldn't have been made over a 10-year-old tweet.
Still, the tweet was quite problematic and if it had resurfaced, she probably should have at least apologized.

— Ali (@Bhuut_) October 9, 2023

However, an ICC spokesperson told Arab News that Abbas had left India due to a “personal reason” and was not deported. “She has left for a personal reason and was not deported,” ICC spokesperson C. Rajshekhar Rao told the publications in a telephonic conversation. He declined to elaborate on the reason for her departure and did not specify if she had arrived back in Pakistan.

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