Former Pakistani all-rounder Abdul Razzaq has said sorry following the backlash over his inappropriate remarks about Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
The controversy arose during a recent media event where Abdul Razzaq, discussing the Pakistan cricket team’s performance and coaching strategies, made a metaphor involving Aishwarya Rai that was widely perceived as disrespectful.
Facing condemnation from the public and fellow cricketers, Razzaq addressed the situation on Samaa TV. He explained, “Yesterday, we were talking about cricket coaching and intentions. I had a slip of the tongue and mistakenly took Aishwarya Rai’s name. I apologize to her personally. I did not intend to hurt anyone’s sentiment.”
This statement was part of Razzaq’s attempt to clarify his intentions and express remorse for any offense caused by his earlier remark. The apology followed criticism from former teammates and prominent figures in the cricket community.
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Shoaib Akhtar, a renowned fast bowler, was among the first to denounce the remarks, emphasizing on social media, “No woman should be disrespected like this.” Shahid Afridi, initially seen clapping at the event, clarified that he did not hear Razzaq’s comment at the time and expressed his intention to ask Razzaq to publicly apologize.
Razzaq’s apology is regarded as a necessary step to address the fallout from his words and to uphold respect for individuals, irrespective of their profession or status. The cricket community and fans hope that such incidents serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining decorum and respect in all forms of public discourse.
