Zainab Abbas, Pakistani journalist, expresses regret for past social media posts after leaving India

Zainab Abbas, a Pakistani cricket commentator covering the Cricket World Cup in India, has denied allegations that she was asked to leave the country. She left India earlier this week following backlash over old social media posts that supposedly mocked India and the Hindu religion. Abbas expressed feeling "intimidated and scared" by the online reactions and apologized to those who were offended by her posts. She clarified that these posts do not represent her current values or who she is as a person. Abbas, who was part of the ICC's digital team, was scheduled to attend Pakistan's matches in Bengaluru, Chennai, and Ahmedabad. The tension between Pakistan and India, who have a history of conflict, also contributed to the controversy. The criticism against Abbas began after a lawyer in Delhi filed a police complaint regarding her old posts, which were no longer available on social media but went viral through screenshots. The lawyer also raised concerns about a tweet where Abbas mentioned Kashmir's right to self-determination. Despite the absence of an immediate threat to her safety, Abbas stated that her family and friends from both India and Pakistan were concerned, and she needed some time and space to reflect on the situation. The ICC spokesperson clarified that her departure was due to personal reasons, quelling speculations that she was forced to leave.