Mohammad Rizwan Controversy: Complaint filed against Pakistan player by Indian lawyer for breaching ICC Code of Conduct

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has landed himself in trouble in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023.

A complaint has been launched against the Pakistani player by an Indian lawyer for breaching ICC Code of Conduct during Pakistan's match against Netherlands.

Rizwan read Namaaz on the Hyderabad stadium during the match against the Dutch, and a Delhi-based lawyer named Vineet Jindal has launched a complaint against him for discriminatory behaviour and expressing religious views on the cricket field, which is against the ICC Code of Conduct.

The complaint has been addressed to ICC chairman Greg Barclay by Advocate Vineet Jindal. The advocate also was the force behind the deportation of Pakistani journalist Zainab Abbas.

"This is a complaint about Pakistan Cricket Player, Mohammad Rizwan ,who was seen offering namaz on the cricket field during his team's opening match of the ongoing ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023 on Friday (October 6) against the Netherlands in Hyderabad," the comlaint letter from Jindal wrote.

"The act of Mohammad Rizwan when he read namaz on the cricket field amid
many Indians is symbolic of the intentional depiction of his religion which stands
against the spirit of the sports. This very act of the player raises questions about
the spirit of the match and raises a question of the ideology, the player follows
while playing the match. The act of displaying his religion by Mohammad
Rizwan purposefully depicts his intent to message that he is a Muslim, defeating
the spirit of sports. Rizwan was seen offering prayers amid the field while his
teammates were waiting for the drinks during the break.

The act of representation of his religion by Mohammed Rizwan in the field and
further followed by his statement in his press conference regarding the dedication
of his victory to the people of Gaza further attests to his religious and political
ideology," it added.

Rizwan also dedicated the victory against Sri Lanka to the people affected in Gaza for the Israel-Palestine conflict, and Jindal accuses Rizwan of showcasing belief which is against the ideology of India.

"International sports are conducted with the essence of developing an amiable
relationship with countries worldwide irrespective of caste, creed, race, and
religion and not to create or provoke enmity between communities," the letter reads.

It is to be seen whether ICC takes any step against the Pakistani player. The Pakistan side fell to a crushing defeat at the hands of India on Saturday and play Australia next in Bengaluru on Friday (October 20).