Former cricketers have criticized ex-all-rounder Abdul Razzaq for making an “inappropriate” analogy involving Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan while discussing the team’s recent performance.
The controversial comments were made during a panel event promoting the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, where Razzaq suggested that intent was crucial for improving the team’s performance.
In a viral video clip, Razzaq compared the lack of intent in the current setup to the idea that marrying Aishwarya Rai would result in a virtuous child, calling it an unrealistic expectation. Former fast-bowler Umar Gul and ex-skipper Shahid Afridi, who were present at the event, were seen laughing and clapping.
When questioned about the incident on a talk show, Afridi claimed he wasn’t paying attention during Razzaq’s comments and only became aware of them after seeing the clip at home. He expressed discomfort with the joke, stating that he would ask Razzaq to apologize.
Former top-order batter Mohammad Yousuf also condemned Razzaq’s remarks, expressing regret as a cricketer and hoping for an apology.
Former pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar strongly criticized the comments, emphasizing that no woman should be disrespected in such a manner. He called out those sitting beside Razzaq for not immediately opposing the inappropriate comments.
This isn’t the first time Razzaq has faced backlash for his remarks. In September 2021, he and others were fined by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority for airing “insensitive, demeaning, derogatory, and hateful” comments against women’s cricket team player Nida Dar on a news channel. In that instance, Razzaq had made derogatory remarks about Dar’s appearance, sparking outrage on social media.
