Cricket

Former Pakistan cricketer Ijaz Ahmed has sparked controversy with his derogatory remarks about the Pashtun community in Pakistan. During a discussion on Pakistan cricket on ARY News, Ahmed made disparaging comments about the education and work ethic of Pashtun players."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," Ahmed said.Ahmed's comments drew swift condemnation from the Pakistan cricket community. Salman Iqbal, founder and CEO of ARY DIGITAL Network, distanced himself from the remark, stating that it was not acceptable by ARY management. Former Pakistan player Junaid Khan also called for Ahmed to apologize.The social media was full of other strong reaction too. Many users condemned Ahmed's comments as racist and discriminatory. Some users also pointed out that Ahmed's comments were particularly insensitive given Pakistan's recent defeat against India in the T20 World Cup.Ahmed's comments have sparked a wider debate about ethnic discrimination in Pakistan. Some commentators have argued that Ahmed's comments reflect a deep-seated prejudice against Pashtuns in Pakistani society. Others have argued that Ahmed's comments were simply a reflection of his personal views and do not represent the views of the majority of Pakistanis.Regardless of Ahmed's intentions, his comments have caused significant harm to the Pashtun community in Pakistan. They have also damaged the reputation of Pakistan cricket and raised questions about the country's commitment to diversity and inclusion.