'Phateechar' foreign players came for PSL final: Imran Khan
PTI chief said he does not even know the names of those players who played for Quetta Gladiators.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has created another controversy as he was filmed telling aides the foreign players who took part in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final were "phateechar" (roughly, low-class ).
PTI chief said he does not even know the names of those foreign players who played the final match. He said these players were brought from Africa and they would have come to play in any case for money.
Imran Khan added that the idea was to bring big players to Pakistan but all of them refused to come here.
After this statement, Imran Khan came under fire and is facing a lot of criticism on social media as well as well as from political leaders and other public figures.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Maryam Aurangzeb has said that remarks about foreign players participating in the final of PSL are regrettable. Successful holding of final was a message to terrorists from fearless Pakistanis to brace challenge squarely, she added.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah also bashed Imran Khan and said he used the language of RAW, his words were humiliating and hurt the feelings of whole nation. Rana Sanaullah demanded Imran Khan to take his statement back and apologize from whole nation.
On the other hand, cricket fans also seemed upset with Imran Khan and asked him the question that which name will be bigger than Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Dawid Malan, Chris Jordan and the great Sir Vivian Richards?
People expressed their views on Twitter as:
If two times WC winner is a phateechar player then what about you? you re losing respect man #Phateechar
— Awais (@awaistweets) March 7, 2017
One WorldCup winner Kaptaan thinks he deserves to become PM of Pakistan yet Ironically 2 time winner of WC is a #Phateechar according to him
— Zain Khan (@Abidin_Xain) March 7, 2017
calling forgn players like daren sammy a #phateechar? , @ImranKhanPTI u truly lost your mind, u need advisor who could filter ur statements
— Samay (@samay9999) March 7, 2017
Sammy won 2 world cups, Samules man of the match of world t20 final still #phateechar
— Soban Javed (@sobanjaved) March 6, 2017
Imran Khan Calls International Players #Phateechar
— Faizan Arshad (@faizanarshad434) March 7, 2017
Which Come to Pakistan To Let Cricket Comeback In Our Country
Shame On You Imran khan.
Imran was also criticized by media persons:
We need an Operation Raddul #Phateechar politicians.
— Salman Hassan (@salmanhassan77) March 7, 2017
Imran Khan s use of the word Phateechar was derogatory but his supporters trying to defend this act is plain DUMB & STUPID
— Mansoor Ali Khan (@_Mansoor_Ali) March 7, 2017
It is pertinent here to mention that the squad of Peshawar Zalmi came with full strength to Lahore for the final. Their team was led by two times T20 World Cup winning captain Darren Sammy. Other foreign players in the team included Marlon Samuels, Dawid Malan and Chris Jordan.
Quetta gladiators also had one of the greatest players of the game in the form of Sir Vivian Richards who was their mentor. Moreover, Dean Jones also came to Lahore to commentate in the final.
Here is what Imran Khan said:
