Many on social media were offended by former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis’ remark about Mohammad Rizwan offering namaz “in front of Hindus” during Sunday’s ICC T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan in which Pakistan thrashed India with 10 wicket stunning victory.
While cricket fans in both countries applauded Pakistan’s dominance over India, supporters were not pleased with the former pacer’s pursuit of happiness outside of sport.
Former pacer and bowling coach of Pakistan Cricket Team, Waqar Younis was heard saying on a TV talk show of Ary News while complimenting Rizwan for his match-winning knock on a show following the game,
“The manner in which Babar and Rizwan batted, the strike-rotation, the look on their faces, it was amazing. The best thing, what Rizwan did, Mashallah, he offered the Namaz on the ground surrounded by Hindus, that was really something very special for me.”
“Rizwan offered Namaz during #INDvPAK match in middle of Hindus was most satisfying thing Mashallah, even more than his batting”
– Waqar Younis & Shoaib Akhtar discusspic.twitter.com/ELTVJSTqh4
— Pakistan Untold (@pakistan_untold) October 26, 2021
In their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 game in Dubai on Sunday, the Babar Azam-led Pakistan cricket team made history by defeating the Indian cricket team by 10 wickets.
During the match, Mohammad Rizwan drew unwarranted attention as he was observed doing Namaz during the drinks break while India was batting. Waqar was referring to this incident in his statement.
Shoaib Akhtar, who was also present at the talk show at the time when the former Pakistani skipper made the remark, did not even react after hearing such an insensitive remark.
Of course, at a talk show with Harbhajan Singh before the match, Shoaib Akhtar reaffirmed his belief in the two-nation theory, the doctrine that led to partition and the subsequent massacre of thousands of millions of people on both sides.
Harsha Bhogle expressed his displeasure over Waqar’s insensitive statement on social media
The comment has shocked the cricket world, with enthusiasts voicing their disgust as well. A lot of fans and experts in the game have slammed the former Pakistan fast bowler for his choice of words on social media.
Harsha Bhogle, a well-known analyst who is known as the ‘Voice of Cricket’, has also expressed his displeasure, calling Younis’ words “disappointing” for making an insensitive statement towards Hindus for stating that Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Rizwan performing Namaz in front of Hindus was special for him.
Imagine this comment by Waqar Younis has even enraged Harsha Bhogle, who typically avoids getting involved in any controversy and prefers to remain diplomatic.
Bhogle said in a tweet,
“For a person of Waqar Younis’ stature to say that watching Rizwan offering namaz in front of Hindus was very special to him, is one of the most disappointing things I have heard. A lot of us try hard to play such things down and talk up the sport and to hear this is terrible.”
Harsha Bhogle also anticipated that Pakistani cricket fans will criticise the same remark made by one of their legends. He added,
“I really hope that a lot of genuine sportslovers in Pakistan are able to see the dangerous side to this statement and join in my disappointment. It makes it very difficult for sportslovers like us to try and tell people it is just sport, just a cricket match.”
According to the 60-year-old senior analyst, Waqar, who was Pakistan’s bowling coach till before the T20 World Cup, should apologise for his comments which separate people based on religion.
He further added to his thread,
“You would think that cricketers, as ambassadors of our game, would be a little more responsible. I am sure there will be an apology on the way from Waqar. We need to unite the cricket world, not divide it by religion.”
Below are the tweets
For a person of Waqar Younis’ stature to say that watching Rizwan offering namaz in front of Hindus was very special to him, is one of the most disappointing things I have heard. A lot of us try hard to play such things down and talk up sport and to hear this is terrible.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 26, 2021
I really hope that a lot of genuine sportslovers in Pakistan are able to see the dangerous side to this statement and join in my disappointment. It makes it very difficult for sportslovers like us to try and tell people it is just sport, just a cricket match.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 26, 2021
You would think that cricketers, as ambassadors of our game, would be a little more responsible. I am sure there will be an apology on the way from Waqar. We need to unite the cricket world, not divide it by religion
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 26, 2021
Former India cricketer and analyst Aakash Chopra on Twitter in response to Younis’ inflammatory remarks commented,
Et Tu, Waqar.
Et tu, Waqar! 🤦
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 26, 2021
Mohammad Rizwan and skipper Babar Azam put on a great show at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, when Pakistan beat India by 10 wickets.
Rizwan (79*) and Babar (68*) ensured that Indian bowlers had little chance of winning the match as the two batters dominated the play. In their first innings, India appeared bewildered as Pakistan knocked down a total of 152 without losing a wicket.
This was India’s first ten-wicket defeat in a T20I match. This was also Pakistan’s first ten-wicket victory in a Twenty20 International. After a three-wicket haul, Shaheen Afridi was named Player of the Match.