Former cricketer Abdul Razzaq sparked outrage online after making a derogatory and offensive statement involving Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai during a media event. The clip of controversial remark has gone viral on social media.
The incident occurred at a press conference where Razzaq, along with fellow former Pakistani legends Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, and Shahid Afridi, were addressing questions about Pakistan’s poor performance at the ICC World Cup 2023 in India.
In response to a question about the team’s performance and the management of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Razzaq delivered a tasteless analogy. He said,
Younis Khan had a good intention as a captain and it gave me confidence to perform better. Everyone here is talking about intention and Pakistan’s team. Actually, we [PCB] don’t have a good intention to develop and polish players in Pakistan. If you think that by marrying Aishwarya Rai, your child will be a good and pious kid, then you would be wrong; it would never happen.
The inappropriate comparison between cricket management and the Bollywood actress sparked outrage on social media. People criticized Razzaq for not only insulting women but also making a nonsensical statement in an attempt to target PCB.
Fans expressed their disappointment with Abdul Razzaq’s remarks, labeling them as inappropriate, sexist, and in poor taste. Many called for an apology from the former cricketer for his insensitive comments.
The reaction of the other panelists, including Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, and Shahid Afridi, who were seen giggling and applauding Razzaq’s controversial statement, fueled the public’s anger. Fans expressed their disappointment in the entire panel for not stopping Razzaq while he went about his absurd tirade.
