Waqar Younis apologises for 'Namaz before Hindus' jibe after India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match

By Team Newsable | First Published Oct 27, 2021, 10:25 AM IST

Former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis admitted that it was a genuine mistake and that sport unites people irrespective of race, colour or religion.

Former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis has apologised for his controversial remark after the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup group stage match which had triggered a massive storm on social media. Younis took to micro-blogging site Twitter to apologise for the remark wherein he was quoted as saying, "The most satisfying thing about match, even more than his batting, was watching Rizwan offer namaz in front of Hindus".

In the heat of the moment, I said something which I did not mean which has hurt the sentiments of many. I apologise for this, this was not intended at all, genuine mistake. Sports unites people regardless of race, colour or religion. 🙏🏻

— Waqar Younis (@waqyounis99)

The commentator wrote on Twitter that he did not mean to hurt the sentiments of anyone and that these words were said in the heat of the moment. Younis had come under fire almost immediately for giving a cricket victory a communal tone. Even though such remarks were expected from some loose cannons with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan cabinet and from the likes of Shahid Afridi, many were taken aback by such a remark coming from Waqar Younis.

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Issuing an apology in the wee hours of Wednesday, Younis admitted that it was a genuine mistake and that sport unites people irrespective of race, colour or religion. The former pacer's remarks were not appreciated by his fellow commentators either. Harsha Bhogle took to Twitter to reveal his displeasure, stating that the remark made by Younis was one of the most disappointing things that he had heard.

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)

Former Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad was even more ruthless in his criticism of the remarks made by Younis. Terming Younis as shameless, Prasad said the remarks take the jihadi mindset to another level.

Shameless*

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad)

Well, it seems for now that Younis seems to have understood the gravity of the situation and apologised. Some, though, have been quick to link the apology to his commentator contract.

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