"As cricketers, we shouldn't mock anyone"- Kamran Akmal opens up on his animated chat with Harbhajan Singh involving Babar Azam
Former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal recently revealed that his viral animated chat with former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh was about Pakistan captain Babar Azam. The duo were seen having a chat after the conclusion of the World Championship of Legends game between Pakistan Legends and India Legends.
Recently, Harbhajan received a lot of flak on social media when he burst out laughing on Star Sports upon being asked who was a better batter between Babar Azam and Brian Lara.
Kamran Akmal claimed that while Azam and Lara had no comparison, the Pakistan captain shouldn't be mocked. Here's what he was quoted as saying by OneCricket:
"Then we talked, and you might have seen Babar being mocked. No doubt, Babar is also a great batsman in Pakistan cricket; he has scored the most hundreds for Pakistan. No doubt, Brian Lara and Babar's class don't match, and they shouldn't be compared. But as cricketers, we shouldn't mock anyone."
Akmal claimed that Harbhajan Singh accepted he shouldn't have mocked Babar Azam on a live show.
"So I talked about it, and he (Harbhajan) also agreed that it shouldn't have happened from his side either, Akmal added.
The Pakistan captain has been under severe scrutiny from cricket experts and former cricketers after Pakistan's poor performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Kamran Akmal apologized for his comments on Sikh community
Kamran Akmal had made some controversial remarks about the Sikh community on a Pakistan TV show when Arshdeep Singh was bowling the last over in the T20 World Cup 2024 game between India and Pakistan. Harbhajan Singh had openly slammed Akmal for his comments and the latter claimed that he apologised to the former during their recent chat.
On this, Akmal said (via OneCricket):
"(Mujhse galti hui thi aur wahi ek baat chal rahi thi) I made a mistake, and that was the only topic being discussed. It was never my intention, and I can never think negatively about anyone's religion. I have made that clear. It should be done because I am younger, they are seniors and a great off-spinner in Indian and world cricket."
Pakistan Champions won the game against India Champions comfortably by 68 runs.