NEW DELHI: Pakistan cricket and controversies go hand in hand. Intentional or unintentional, whatever Pakistan cricketers say or do, they end up in the news for all the wrong reasons.
Just two days back a video had surfaced on social media where Pakistan captain Babar Azam had apparently body-shamed wicket-keeper Azam Khan during a practice session.
And now, former Pakistan captain and wicket-keeper Rashid Latif shared a video on X where he is on a talk show discussing a private dinner that was hosted by the Pakistan team where fans could meet the national team players for 25 dollars!
The show, hosted by Kamran Muzaffer, also has Nauman Niaz, a Pakistani television personality, cricket correspondent, and author, who too is aghast by the event and slammed the Pakistan cricketers for being a part of such an event.
Latif says in the video, “There are official dinners, but this is a private dinner. Who can do this? It’s terrible. That means you met our players in 25 dollars. God forbid, had there been a mess, people would have said boys are earning money.”
The host added that Pakistan cricketers cannot do such a ‘meet and greet’ event on national duty and that too for 25 dollars!
Nauman Niaz termed the event as a ‘sad state of affairs’ and questioned intent and focus of the team.
Latif adds, “People tell me that whoever calls the Pakistan players, they just ask, ‘how much money will you give?’ This has become common. Things were different at our time, we had 2-3 dinners but they were official. But this is highlighted because it’s the World Cup. So the players should be careful. The amount of 25 dollars shouldn’t be blatantly used like this. You attend 2-3 dinners, but without the commercial angle. You can go for charity dinners and fundraisers, but this is neither fundraising nor a charity dinner. This is a private function with the name of Pakistan and Pakistan cricket associated with it. Don’t make this mistake.”
Just two days back a video had surfaced on social media where Pakistan captain Babar Azam had apparently body-shamed wicket-keeper Azam Khan during a practice session.
And now, former Pakistan captain and wicket-keeper Rashid Latif shared a video on X where he is on a talk show discussing a private dinner that was hosted by the Pakistan team where fans could meet the national team players for 25 dollars!
The show, hosted by Kamran Muzaffer, also has Nauman Niaz, a Pakistani television personality, cricket correspondent, and author, who too is aghast by the event and slammed the Pakistan cricketers for being a part of such an event.
Latif says in the video, “There are official dinners, but this is a private dinner. Who can do this? It’s terrible. That means you met our players in 25 dollars. God forbid, had there been a mess, people would have said boys are earning money.”
The host added that Pakistan cricketers cannot do such a ‘meet and greet’ event on national duty and that too for 25 dollars!
Nauman Niaz termed the event as a ‘sad state of affairs’ and questioned intent and focus of the team.
Latif adds, “People tell me that whoever calls the Pakistan players, they just ask, ‘how much money will you give?’ This has become common. Things were different at our time, we had 2-3 dinners but they were official. But this is highlighted because it’s the World Cup. So the players should be careful. The amount of 25 dollars shouldn’t be blatantly used like this. You attend 2-3 dinners, but without the commercial angle. You can go for charity dinners and fundraisers, but this is neither fundraising nor a charity dinner. This is a private function with the name of Pakistan and Pakistan cricket associated with it. Don’t make this mistake.”
After their opening T20 World Cup match against the United States in Dallas on Thursday, Pakistan have a big clash against archrivals India in New York on Sunday.