(PTI Photo)
During a segment on ARY News covering the India-Pakistan ICC T20 World Cup match, Akmal stirred controversy with remarks about Arshdeep Singh’s religion, saying “Kuch bhi ho sakta hai… 12 baj gaye hai (Anything can happen. It is already 12).”
On Monday, former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal extended an apology for his comments regarding Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh, which caused significant public backlash.
Facing widespread criticism, Akmal expressed profound regret and emphasized his respect for Sikhs globally, acknowledging the gravity of his remarks.
His comments provoked former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, who strongly rebuked Akmal on X, expressing his displeasure.”Lakh di laanat tere Kamraan Akhmal.. You should know the history of Sikhs before you open your filthy mouth. We Sikhs saved your mothers and sisters when they were abducted by invaders, the time invariably was 12 o’clock . Shame on you…Have some Gratitude.”
Now, Akmal has turned to X, where he posted an apology stating, “I deeply regret my recent remarks and extend my sincere apologies to @harbhajan_singh and the Sikh community. My words were inappropriate and disrespectful. I hold utmost respect for Sikhs globally and never intended any harm. I genuinely apologize. #Respect #Apology.”
In the game, Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first, opting to put India in to bat. However, the Indian batsmen faced difficulties on a challenging pitch, with key openers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma unable to make significant contributions. Rishabh Pant, however, appeared to be in a league of his own, forming valuable partnerships with Axar Patel and Suryakumar Yadav. Despite his efforts, India’s lower middle order faltered under the pressure of scoring on a difficult surface, leading to a modest total of just 119 runs in 19 overs.
Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah emerged as the standout bowlers for Pakistan, with Mohammad Amir claiming two wickets and Shaheen Shah Afridi taking one. During the chase, Pakistan adopted a more cautious approach, anchored by Mohammad Rizwan’s steadfast presence. However, crucial breakthroughs from Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, including dismissals of skipper Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, and Iftikhar Ahmed, kept the pressure on Pakistan. With 18 runs required from the final over, Naseem Shah attempted to steer Pakistan to victory, but Arshdeep Singh’s efforts ensured Pakistan fell short by six runs. Bumrah’s match-winning performance earned him the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
