Waqar Younis apologises for "Namaz in front of Hindus" remark

New Delhi: After facing the wrath of former cricketers and Pakistani fans on social media, former Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis on Wednesday apologised for his "Namaz in front of Hindus" remark.

The comment had disappointed sports fans across the globe after Pakistan's game against India in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021, which they lost by 10 wickets.

In response, Waqar took to Twitter and apologised for the controversial remark and clarified that it was an unintentional mistake in the heat of the moment.

"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. #apologies," he tweeted.

- "I never meant it, it was a Game & it was the heat of the moment, I apologise" @waqyounis99 clarifies on what happened earlier.

Still what a historic Game & Win it was for team Pakistan. Let's move on!@bhogleharsha @asportstvpk #PakvsIndia #Pakistan #India #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/1mgsnyRfap

— Arsalan H. Shah ~ Proud Pakistani (@arsalanhshah) October 26, 2021

Waqar, in an interview to a Pakistani news channel, had said, "The manner in which Babar (Azam) and (Mohammed) 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."

They wear their religion on their sleeves & when Hindus say Jai Shri Ram - Its labeled a War Cry. WATCH Pakistani cricketer Waqar Younis : Best part of India ?ak match was when a Pakistani player Rizwan did "Namaz on the ground in the middle of all Hindus" pic.twitter.com/MrtN4ifAuE

— Rosy (@rose_k01) October 26, 2021

Reacting to the remarks, former cricketer-turned-commentator Akash Chopra took to twitter and expressed his disagreement by saying, "Et tu, Waqar."

Et tu, Waqar!

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 26, 2021

Another former cricketer Wasim Jaffer called it as disgusting. He tweeted, "Absolutely vile and disgusting comments from Waqar Younis. #shamefull."

Absolutely vile and disgusting comments from Waqar Younis. #Shameful

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) October 27, 2021

Indian commentator and cricket expert Harsha Bhogle also shared a thread expressing his opinion on Waqar’s controversial statement.

"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 sports and to hear this is terrible.

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) October 26, 2021

"I really hope that a lot of genuine sports lovers in Pakistan are able to see the dangerous side to this statement and join in my disappointment. It makes it very difficult for sports lovers like us to try and tell people it is just sport, just a cricket match," he said.

"You would think that cricketers, as ambassadors of our game, would be a little more responsible. I am sure there will be an apology on the way from Waqar. We need to unite the cricket world, not divide it by religion," Harsha said.

You would think that cricketers, as ambassadors of our game, would be a little more responsible. I am sure there will be an apology on the way from Waqar. We need to unite the cricket world, not divide it by religion

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 26, 2021

Waqar, it looks, has not disappointed Harsha and others as he apologised for his "Namaz" remarks. (UNI)