Joining the chorus of disapproval is another veteran, Shoaib Akhtar, who shared the dressing room with Razzaq for a substantial period. The Rawalpindi Express condemned the Lahore-born cricketer’s comments, highlighting their inappropriateness and reinforcing the importance of maintaining respect, especially when discussing public figures.
The incident underscored the need for sports personalities to exercise discretion and sensitivity in their public statements, as their words can have a far-reaching impact beyond the realm of sports.
Abdul Razzaq’s outlandish statement
The incident unfolded within the backdrop of a media event that aimed to scrutinize the Green Team’s recent performances in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. However, the uproar was triggered by Razzaq’s unexpected choice of example, strategically directed at criticizing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The right-handed batter voiced concerns about Pakistan’s absence of positive intentions for player development. He drew an analogy, likening the expectation of positive outcomes without a nurturing environment to anticipating a virtuous child through a marriage with Aishwarya.
“Here, I am referring to their (PCB’s) intention. While I was playing, I was aware of my captain Younis Khan’s good intentions. That gave me strength and confidence, and with Allah’s help, I was able to perform well for Pakistani cricket. We don’t really intend to improve and enhance the players, in my opinion. That will never happen if you believe that I will marry Aishwarya (Rai) to have a good-natured and moral child. Therefore, you must first amend your intentions,” Razzaq said.
Also READ: Netizens slam former Pakistan cricketer Abdul Razzaq for his bizarre comments on Indian actress Aishwarya Rai
Shoaib Akhtar’s reaction on Abdul Razzaq’s statement
Akhtar strongly criticized Razzaq for making an inappropriate joke or comparison, expressing his condemnation of the disrespectful comment. The former speedster specifically emphasized that no woman should be treated in such a manner. He also called out the lack of immediate objection from those seated beside Razzaq.
“I highly condemn the inappropriate joke/comparison made by Razzaq. No woman should be disrespected like this. People seated beside him should have raised their voice right away rather than laughing & clapping,” Akhtar wrote in his tweet.
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