In 2023, Pakistani cricket star Mohammad Rizwan played a historic innings against Sri Lanka in the Cricket World Cup amidst the ongoing Israel-Palestine crisis. Rizwan scored an outstanding 131 runs, and his teammate Abdullah Shafique shone in his debut One Day International (ODI) with Pakistan successfully chasing a target of 345 runs. While many praised Rizwan’s performance, some on social media had mixed opinions about his comments on the crisis, suggesting he should focus on cricket and stay away from politics.

Rizwan expressed gratitude for the victory, dedicating it to the people affected by the crisis, saying, “This win is for our brothers and sisters in Gaza. I am thrilled to contribute to our win and want to take responsibility for making it possible, especially for Abdullah Shafique and Hasan Ali. I also want to thank the people of Hyderabad for their incredible support.”

Some users urged Rizwan to use his platform to promote cricket and advised him to avoid getting involved in politics. Others suggested that the Pakistan cricket team should financially support Palestinians more through contributions from the World Cup to help in the Israel-Palestine crisis.

Due to the Israel-Palestine crisis, both Israel and Gaza have reported an increase in casualties, with over 1,200 casualties in Israel and 900 in Gaza. The military conflict in Israel has intensified, resulting in further casualties, and Hamas has threatened revenge for Israeli airstrikes. The complete blockade in Gaza has caused severe humanitarian distress.