Abdul Razzaq blasted for 'distasteful' remarks on Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Abdul Razzaq, the former Pakistan cricketer, is facing severe backlash for his comments on Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the ICC ODI World Cup, which even included a very loose remark on Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

World Cup 2023: News | Schedule | Results | Points table

Pakistan’s early exit from the competition, failing to qualify for the semi-finals, has seen plenty of questions being raised around Babar Azam’s white-ball captaincy, with Razzaq directing blame towards the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

At a recent event, Razzaq openly criticized the intentions of the PCB, where he offered a bizarre example that involved mentioning Aishwarya’s name.

The event also saw the presence of former players like Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi, who were seen smiling, nodding, and even applauding Razzaq’s distasteful remarks.

In discussing the “neeyat” (intention) of the Pakistan board, Razzaq stated, “Here, I am referring to their (PCB’s) intention. While I was playing, I was aware of my captain Younis Khan’s good intentions. That gave me strength and confidence, and with Allah’s help, I was able to perform well for Pakistani cricket.”

“Right now a lot of talk here is surrounded around the Pakistan team and the players’ performances in the World Cup. I think we do not have the intention to polish and develop the players. If you think that by marrying Aishwarya Rai, a good and pious kid would be born, it would never happen,” he added.

بابر اعظم @babarazam258
کی کپتانی کو مخاطب کرتے ہوئے چیمپیئن آل راؤنڈر عبدالرزاق نے کہا کہ جب نیتیں ہی صاف نہیں تو نتیجہ کیسے اچھا آسکتا ہے۔۔عبدالرزاق نے بڑی مثال بھی دی ۔@TheRealPCBMedia pic.twitter.com/YoSx44DQjv

— ZAHID GHAFFAR (@zahidghaffar) November 13, 2023

Razzaq has now come under intense criticism on X with many Pakistanis slamming the former cricketer for his remarks.

What a terrible thing to say!
That’s why education and grooming is important. These 3 have travelled the world and yet, something like this is being said by Abdul Razzaq; endorsed by Umar Gull and Shahid Afridi. Very low.
This would hurt Aishwarya, her lovely Bachchan family… pic.twitter.com/IPw3JWhhUd

— Basit Subhani (@BasitSubhani) November 13, 2023

Shamefull Disgusting
Ye hai hamaray Senior Players Hud hai
Bhai Ap kese Aishwariya Rai ko degrade kar sakte ho Cricketer ho Cricket me reh kr example de
and Dukh is cheez ka kisi ex cricketer ne roka bi nae ye kya bol diya#Abdulrazzaq
pic.twitter.com/7juuK8RwG0

— Waleed Rauf (@WaleedRauf20) November 13, 2023

Abdul Razzaq statement on Aishwarya Rai is strongly condemned for its inappropriate and character-damaging nature, reflecting a narrow mindset despite purported good intentions. #BabarAzam #BehindYouSkipper #BehindYouBabarAzam #AishwaryaRai #AbdulRazzaq #INDvsNZ #RohitSharma… pic.twitter.com/B7XV8p4HEH

— Farhad khan (@imFarhadkhan) November 14, 2023

Shameful example given by Abdul Razzaq. #AbdulRazzaq #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/AOboOVHoQU

— Shaharyar Ejaz (@SharyOfficial) November 13, 2023

In the midst of speculation surrounding the uncertain future of Pakistan captain Babar Azam’s leadership, reports suggest that the Pakistan Cricket Board is planning to sack its entire contingent of foreign support staff.

World Cup 2023: Why Pakistan failed to reach semis yet again

According to Samaa TV, a prominent Pakistani news channel, head coach Grant Bradburn, team director Mickey Arthur, and batting coach Andrew Puttick will be asked to step down after the team’s disappointing performance in the 2023 World Cup in India. The news also suggests that PCB chief Zaka Ashraf will convene an emergency meeting with former captain Younis Khan on Tuesday where this decision will be officially communicated.

Pakistan held the No.1 rank in ODIs just 3 months ago and yet, they fell woefully short in both the Asia Cup and the World Cup that followed. The disappointments in these crucial multi-nation tournaments are considered the primary catalyst for the significant changes expected to occur in Pakistan cricket. This development comes one day after Pakistan bowling coach Morne Morkel decided to quit.