Former Pakistan skipper and bowling coach Waqar Younis said that his 'namaz' remark after Pakistan's 10-wicket victory over India in the T20 World Cup was a genuine mistake and that he apologises for it.
He was invited as a guest to Pakistan's ARY News to discuss the win. He said that it was very special for him to watch Mohammad Rizwan offer Namaz in front of Hindus during the match. Opener Rizwan was seen offering namaz during drinks in the game.
After the comment received backlash on social media from the cricket fraternity as well as Pakistani fans, he said he realised the mistake.
He tweeted that he said something in the heat of the moment and did not intend to hurt sentiments. "It was a genuine mistake. Sports unite people regardless of race, colour, and religion."
Indian cricket analysts Harsha Bhogle and Akash Chopra had said hearing a person of Waqar Younnis' stature say a comment like that is one of the most disappointing things. "A lot of us try hard to play such things down and talk up the sport, and to hear this is terrible," tweeted Bhogle.
Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer called the remark "vile and disgusting".