Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers score ducks after ‘selfie’ with Zainab Abbas

The eighth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy has to be one of the most competitive editions so far. After more than half the group games, we have only one team that has confirmed their semifinal spot. As many as 7 teams are in the hunt for the remaining three spots. After last night’s defeat to Sri Lanka, India has also put their spot in jeopardy.

Zainab Abbas, a news reporter for Pakistani channel Duniya News, has caught wind on social networking site Twitter. She is currently in England to cover the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy. Prior to Pakistan’s game against South Africa, Zainab took a selfie with star batsman AB De Villiers, who also is the skipper of the Proteas.

She captioned the picture as “told him to go easy on us”. He indeed went easy on Pakistan as he bagged a golden duck against the Men in Green. Incidentally, this was the first ever first-ball duck for De Villiers in 221 One-Day Internationals. South Africa were eventually bowled out for 219 and Pakistan were solid in their chase with just 3 down after scoring 119 before rain did not allow any further play to happen. Pakistan were awarded the game by virtue of the D/L method by 19 runs.

India went head to head with their neighbours Sri Lanka in London on Thursday and Zainab again got a selfie clicked with another leading batsman of the world, Virat Kohli. Like De Villiers, Kohli is also the captain of his side.

Had to be done! @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/D8kGzwROik

— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) June 1, 2017

Kohli is one of the most consistent batsmen going around in world cricket. But he was disappointingly out for a duck in the crucial game against Sri Lanka, who went on to win the game by 7 wickets against the defending champions.

People on Twitter were quick to point this pattern and trolled Zainab. The presenter took the jibes in a good spirit and laughed it off.

Two great batsmen – yesterday de Villiers, today Kohli- of the modern era have bagged ducks after a selfie with @ZAbbasOfficial. #BanHer

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) June 8, 2017

Starting a petition to ensure @ZAbbasOfficial stays away from all the other Indian batsmen during ICC events.

— Neel (@vanillawallah) June 8, 2017

The curse of the @ZAbbasOfficial selfie strikes again…Kohli goes for a duck now..Devilliers yesterday ? ? #INDvSL #CT17

— Hemant (@hemantbuch) June 8, 2017

Please. Next selfie with Angelo Mathews. Must get this done before Pakistan vs Srilanka.

— Naveed Nadeem (@NaveedNadeem007) June 8, 2017

Indian team support staff at work as soon as they saw @ZAbbasOfficial with a camera in her hand #SelfieKaWaar pic.twitter.com/2KI1f5ILmr

— Kumar Vatsal ⚽️ (@vatsal20) June 9, 2017

Still no central contract for Zainab come on PCB she's single handily defeated a team which your selected 11 couldn't deal with @TheRealPCB

— Sami (@Sami__Blue) June 9, 2017

By laughing it off! What else ?? https://t.co/sLnvP2KBFg

— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) June 9, 2017