Former Pakistan bowling coach and pace great Waqar Younis issued an apology on Wednesday after his remarks on wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan praying in the field during the high-voltage T20 World Cup match versus India on Sunday drew strong criticism on social media.
During an appearance on a private TV show, a day after the fixture, Younis praised the Pakistan side for winning the match and commented: “God has willed [Mashallah], Rizwan offered namaz in a ground in the midst of Hindus. That was something very, very special for me.”
The remarks evoked fierce criticism from many on social media. Indian cricket commentator and analyst Harsha Bhogle expressed dismay on Younis’ comments, saying: “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,” Bhogle tweeted”.
