Shaheen Afridi is one heck of a gem in the squad, but the cricketer has been under fire for his racist remarks to a journalist:
During a press conference Pakistani cricketer Shaheen Shah Afridi told a local reporter to put some light on himself so that he could be more visible – the reporter in question did not take this kindly and says the cricketer should apologise for making a clearly racist remark pic.twitter.com/PrYe2qkFw8
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) December 20, 2019
The journalist, Asghar Ali Mubarak, made a video demanding a public and a verbal apology from Shaheen Afridi for the racist remarks made. And the internet has a lot to say!
https://twitter.com/BilalKhan8266/status/1208117085731196928?s=19
Many were calling out the journalist of using the racial slur himself:
Dude said he looked a little like "Negroes". How is he complaining of racism?
— EmpT. (@Mt_niss) December 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/ughias/status/1208107435086487552?s=19
https://twitter.com/Notfound91/status/1208119611486543872?s=19
Some were calling it ‘uncalled negativity:’
Just to remind you all he was called a "Buffoon" by Mike Artherton, was he not even educated.Our senior here likes such kind of publicity.He was the one who called Dickwella,
D Silva. And he was so happy on this blunder. Please don't spread un called negativity for our cricketers— Sawera Pasha (@sawerapasha) December 20, 2019
Fans were disappointed:
Thats very bad. Unfortunately we make racist remarks without even realizing what we are saying is crossing red lines. https://t.co/sF9TIOagFr
— Amir Rasheed (@AnimalBounce) December 20, 2019
As much as I love Shaheen, what he did there is unacceptable! He should be disciplined. https://t.co/1gKsUHU4DZ
— S M Tabish Tariq 🇬🇧🇵🇰 🇵🇸 🍁 (@SMTabishTariq) December 20, 2019
People came forward to support the reporter:
https://twitter.com/chdry5/status/1208166711926697985?s=19
I stand with the reporter. Shaheen did pass a derogatory racist slur snubbing the interlocutor. It's sort of our national attitude. We love to tone down dissent by ridiculing. I wonder if Shaheen even knows what racism is. https://t.co/gcJS9lAxmv
— Mazhar (@majjubaba) December 20, 2019
Some suggested that PCB should start offering a course in ethics as well:
https://twitter.com/BushraMushtaq23/status/1208085996644052993?s=19
PCB now needs a coach for ethics too. https://t.co/PcfOF8wJvf
— Musawwer (@musawwer0021) December 20, 2019
People were tagging PCB to look into the matter:
https://twitter.com/ShoaibFromLhr/status/1208101014298980353?s=19
Many were accusing the journalist a ‘controversy seeker:’
This "journalist" is serial controversy seeker. The same guy who asked Sri Lankan batsman Dikwela will he score a century next day? He was told by the batsman that he is Out already. Also he sued an English cricketer Michael Atherton for calling him "Buffoon". https://t.co/SYpUnxwbTf
— Waseem Abbasi (@Wabbasi007) December 20, 2019
Just to remind you all he was called a "Buffoon" by Mike Artherton, was he not even educated.Our senior here likes such kind of publicity.He was the one who called Dickwella,
D Silva. And he was so happy on this blunder. Please don't spread un called negativity for our cricketers— Sawera Pasha (@sawerapasha) December 20, 2019
Some shared how they had actually seen the entire presser and that the clip was taken out of context:
https://twitter.com/DirtBag95/status/1208123495189794818?s=19
This is absolutely rubbish @omar_quraishi I was there and nothing was said in racist manner. Please stop fueling unnecessary criticism. Don't just tweet edited video for your own gains. @iShaheenAfridi We stand with him and @TheRealPCB This allegation is absolutely garbage. https://t.co/TbTp16Cy37
— اسامہ (@Usamaav) December 20, 2019
Some didn’t find anything wrong:
https://twitter.com/WarWounded__/status/1208110974844186624?s=19
One sjiuld have little sence of humour,it is not that ssrious https://t.co/haBokJaGkw
— naseer ahmed siddiqi (@naseersiddiqie) December 20, 2019
Lol 😂
Yeh video thori aur lambi hoti to isne Imran Khan ko bhi keh dena tha ke maafi maango mujhse aur agar case karna ho to LHC main karna. Itni mushkil se bowler mila hai zaaya nahi hone dein ge. https://t.co/1n3Qox2sNR
— s. (@neutrondust_) December 20, 2019
He sure is:
https://twitter.com/AliKhanSG/status/1208123778187874305?s=19
What do you think about the video? Let us know in the comments below!