New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad and cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle condemned former Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis' comment following the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match.
Younis' comment on Mohammad Rizwan offering namaz during the drinks break in the India-Pakistan game in the ICC T20 World Cup on Sunday had not gone down well with former cricketers and Pakistan fans.
Veteran Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad slammed Waqar Younis' comments and said Waqar took the jihadi mindset to the next level.
Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle condemned Waqar's comments and expressed his disappointment in a series of tweets.
While cricket fans across both nations have lauded Pakistan's dominant performance, former pacer Waqar finding joy in something beyond cricket had left fans unimpressed.
"The manner in which Babar and Rizwan batted, the strike-rotation, the look on their faces, it was amazing. The best thing, what Rizwan did, Mashalla, he offered the Namaz on the ground surrounded by Hindus, that was really something very special for me," said Waqar on ARY News.
After facing severe backlash, Younis on Wednesday apologised for his comments.
"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, a genuine mistake. Sports unites people regardless of race, colour, or religion. #apologies," Younis tweeted.
Mohammad Rizwan and skipper Babar Azam performed a remarkable show on Sunday as Pakistan thrashed India by 10 wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
This was the first time that India had lost a T20I by ten wickets. Coincidentally, this was also the first time that Pakistan has won a T20I by ten wickets. Shaheen Afridi was adjudged as Player of the Game after a three-wicket haul.
