New Delhi: Taking a veiled dig at the Pakistan cricket team after its crushing defeat to India in the World Cup match at Ahmedabad on Saturday, Israel’s ambassador to India, Naor Gilon said it was a pity that Babar Azam’s men could not prevail as it would have enabled them to dedicate another win to the “terrorists of Hamas”.
After Pakistan’s historic chase against Sri Lanka, the team’s wicketkeeper-batsman Muhammad Rizwan, who played a winning hand with a century, dedicated his innings to the "brothers and sisters in Gaza”.
“This was for our brothers and sisters in Gaza. Happy to contribute in the win. Credits to the whole team and especially Abdullah Shafique and Hassan Ali for making it easier. Extremely grateful to the people of Hyderabad for the amazing hospitality and support throughout,” Rizwan posted on X after the win.
Hitting back on Saturday, the Israeli envoy posted on X, “We are happy that #India emerged victorious in the #IndiaVsPak match at #CWC23 and that Pakistan was unable to attribute its victory to the terrorists of Hamas. We were really moved by Indian friends showing their solidarity with Israel by displaying posters during the match.”
Gilon also shared a photo of an Indian fan at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium waving a poster of PM Modi and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas continued for the eighth day on Saturday. PM Netanyahu met the soldiers near the Gaza border ahead of a possible “ground invasion”. The country had ordered nearly one million people to evacuate the northern part of the territory.