Ex-Pakistan star Ijaz Ahmed’s ‘Uneducated Pathan’ comment sparks massive outrage

Former Pakistan cricket team stars seem to be making controversial remarks a habit. After Kamran Akmal made a controversial and racist ‘Sikh’ joke on Indian cricket team star Arshdeep Singh, sparking major controversy, now another former Pakistan player Ijaz Ahmed has also made headlines due to his unnecessary comment.

Ahmed, who played 60 Tests and 250 ODIs for Pakistan, made his comments on the Pathan community in Pakistan and his comments were not well received by the Pakistan cricket community.

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“Look at the [Pakistan] cricket team now, 80% of it has gone to remote areas like KP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). If you select a team right now, 6-8 players are Pathans, who do not have education. They wake up in the morning to go for namaz with their relatives or brothers and return back, and then they don’t leave their homes after that. When there is pressure on them [during matches], they cannot handle it,” Ijaz Ahmed said on ARY News.

Salman Iqbal, founder and CEO of ARY DIGITAL Network distanced himself from the remark and wrote a comment on X saying that, “What was said at Kashif Abbasi’s show by Ijaz ahmed is not acceptable by ARY management and me personally . I have a huge respect for the Pakhtun community and all the communities we have in Pakistan . I think that Ijaz ahmed should appologise to the pakhtun community on his statement.”

Former Pakistan player Junaid Khan also said, “Ijaz Ahmed should apologize.”