Former Pakistan cricketer apologizes

Abdul Razzaq, former Pakistan cricketer, has apologised for his comments about Indian actress Aishwarya Rai.

He made the comments earlier this week, at a public panel where he was joined by fellow former cricketers Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi, both of whom applauded and chuckled at Razzaq’s remarks.

In a video apology posted on Twitter, Razzaq said that it was not his intention to hurt anybody’s sentiments. “I am very ashamed of yesterday and I realise I said very bad words. I apologise to everyone, please forgive me,” he wrote, and said in his statement that he originally wanted to use a different analogy, but because of a slip of tongue, took Aishwarya Rai’s name.

At the panel, Razzaq criticised the current Pakistan cricket squad, and questioned the players’ intentions.

He said in Urdu, “If your thinking is that you marry Aishwarya Rai and expect a pious and virtuous child to be born, then that can never happen.” A clip of his remarks about Aishwarya was widely shared online, and attracted criticism. Following the outcry, Afridi appeared on the television news and condemned Razzaq’s comments. He also said that he wasn’t aware of what was said, even though the viral videos showed him laughing at Razzaq’s words. “It was a wrong joke and such jokes should not be made,” he said on Samaa TV.

Former cricketer Mohammad Yousaf also slammed his compatriot’s comments, and wrote in a tweet, “I hope he will be ashamed of what he said and apologise.” Shoaib Akhtar tweeted that ‘no woman should be disrespected like this’, and also slammed Gul and Afridi for cheering Razzaq on.