New Delhi: Just when you thought their dismal performance and exit from the World Cup and a casteist remark by Wasim Akram on live television were the lowest moments for Pakistani cricket of late, former pacer Abdul Razzaq made his contribution, taking the debate even lower. The retired all-rounder made a derogatory comment about actor Aishwarya Rai at a panel discussion. And his fellow panellists Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul, were seen smiling and chuckling at the comment.
Razzaq name-dropped the actor in a shocking analogy on neeyat or intention at the ‘Jeet ka Safar’ event attended by former Pakistani cricketers Monday, to discuss the Babar Azam-led team’s disappointing performance. The panel included cricketers Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Gul.
While criticising the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) lack of commitment towards sharpening and boosting the player’s skills, Razzaq said, “We don’t really intend to improve and enhance the players, in my opinion. If you marry Aishwarya Rai you will not have a good-natured and moral child. Therefore, you must first amend your intentions.”
However, rather than denouncing Razzaq for his misogynistic remarks, Afridi and Gul as well as others in the room were seen laughing and clapping in response.
Shameful example given by Abdul Razzaq. #AbdulRazzaq #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/AOboOVHoQU
— Shaharyar Ejaz 🏏 (@SharyOfficial) November 13, 2023
Responding to criticism, Gul clarified on X Tuesday, that he and Afridi do not ‘endorse’ Razzaq’s comments and that they were meant to be sarcastic.
“No one there appreciated or endorsed what was said by him. It was ethically and morally wrong. Everyone has a different perspective and it’s always wrong to name people who are not even a part of the conversation”, Gul stated.
Dear brother, @SAfridiOfficial bhai and I did not clap in the clip to endorse what Abdul Razzaq said but it was in sarcasm. No1 there appreciated or endorsed what was said by him. It was ethically n morally wrong. Everyone has a different perspective and it’s always wrong to name…
— Umar Gul (@mdk_gul) November 14, 2023
Also read: Not just Pakistan cricket, Wasim Akram also hits a new low—casteist slur on national TV
Not Razzaq’s first controversy
Drawing a comparison with Rai, the former cricketer highlighted the importance of pure intentions within the cricket board. Razzaq noted that former captain Younis Khan and his ‘neeyat’ or positive motives inspired confidence in him to strengthen his performance. But he said that the current captain, Azam, and the PCB do not have such motives now.
“Babar Azam has been the captain of the Pakistan team for four years, we all supported him during that time but he could not improve in this period and could not prove him as a good leader,” Razzaq said.
Razzaq’s derogatory remarks towards Rai have garnered strong criticism from social media, with many calling his comments ‘shameful’, ‘uncalled for’ as well as criticising Afridi, who has three daughters himself, for supporting such remarks.
Cricket journalist Farid Khan also condemned Razzaq’s remarks, calling for him to apologise to Rai for tarnishing her image.
I condemn Abdul Razzaq's statement about Aishwarya Rai! You cannot talk about someone's character in that manner and try to tarnish their image. Razzaq bhai always talks about niyat but his statement was uncalled for and he should apologise for it. It's a small mindset 🙏🏼 #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/3X40dK3cGL
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) November 13, 2023
Others such as journalist Basit Subhani noted that despite being well-travelled individuals, who have been exposed to the world, these cricketers supported such misogynistic comments. He highlighted the importance of education to counter such mindsets.
What a terrible thing to say!
That's why education and grooming is important. These 3 have travelled the world and yet, something like this is being said by Abdul Razzaq; endorsed by Umar Gull and Shahid Afridi. Very low.
This would hurt Aishwarya, her lovely Bachchan family… pic.twitter.com/IPw3JWhhUd
— Basit Subhani (@BasitSubhani) November 13, 2023
However, this is not the first time Razzaq has sparked controversy for his statements. In 2019, the former cricketer called Indian cricketer Jasprit Bumrah a ‘baby bowler’ as compared to the bowlers he had faced such as Australia’s Glenn Mcgrath and Pakistan’s Wasim Akram.
It’s not his first tryst with misogyny either. In 2021, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) fined news channel Neo News PKR 200,000 after Razzaq commented on female cricketer Nida Dar’s physique, saying she looked more like a man than a woman.
The action was taken based on Pakistani tennis player Aisam Ul Haq Qureshi‘s complaint. The Council of Complaints noted that the former cricketer’s comments were “implying a presupposed notion that cricket is a sport only meant for boys, who define the masculine nature of the sport”, calling such comments ‘deeply problematic’.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)