Waqar Younis Ignites Indians After Claiming He Loves Namaz Recited 'in Front of Hindus' at T20 Match

India-Pakistan cricket matches have often provided fodder for controversies. In the past, many cricketers have been caught making disparaging remarks, which have then been slammed by a section of people. Yet again, a cricketer's comments have sparked massive outrage on social media.

Legendary Pakistani cricketer Waqar Younis' comments on a television network on Tuesday in the wake of the ICC T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan, have created a massive storm on social media.

After Pakistan registered a thumping 10-wicket win over their rivals on Sunday, their first win in a cricket World Cup after 12 failed attempts, Waqar said: "What I liked the most is what Rizwan did. He stood in the middle of the ground and read [a] Namaz (traditional Muslim prayer), in front of the Hindus".

Waqar's comments didn't sit well with the Indian public, including a number of cricketers and pundits.

While noted Indian cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle dubbed Waqar's remarks as "dangerous" and "disappointing", a former Indian fast bowler, Venkatesh Prasad, called it a "jihadist" mindset.

On the other hand, a few claimed that "bigotry was at its peak in Pakistan", some said that it wasn't a "surprise", considering "cricketing talent was no cure for illiteracy and idiocy".

"Hinduon ke beech me khade hoke namaaz padi, that was very very special for me" - Waqar .
Takes jihadi mindset of another level to say this in a sport. What a shameful man.

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) October 26, 2021

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

Waqar Younis gloating over ‘namaz among Hindus’ is no shock or surprise. Cricketing talent is no cure for illiteracy, idiocy & bigotry. It’s disappointing only because it shuts up those few like us who’ve been batting for resuming bilateral sports with Pakistan. Not worth it.

— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) October 26, 2021

Bigotry at its peak in Pakistan. This is former Pakistani cricketer Waqar Younis saying “Hindoon k beech mein kharay ho kar namaz parhi, that was very special.” (It was special for him that Rizwan offered Namaz in front of Hindus in the field.) 🤦‍♂️

pic.twitter.com/7JriubH2Dn

— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) October 26, 2021

Waqar Younis comments on "Namaz among Hindus" coupled with Sheikh Rashid's nonsense adds pure poison to what should have been a heady cocktail of only sport. And no, none of it means its ok to ask Indian Muslims to respond like they have to answer for it. They dont.

— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) October 26, 2021

Although Waqar tendered an apology on Wednesday, declaring that he made a "mistake in the heat of the moment", the trolls continue to target him on social media.

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 🙏🏻

— Waqar Younis (@waqyounis99) October 26, 2021

Waqar is not the first Pakistani cricketer to have made such statements. His former teammate Shahid Afridi mocked the Indian public in 2011, while Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar made it clear that he was in favour of having different countries for Hindus and Muslims.