Images

Shahid Afridi comes under fire for sexist remarks in autobiography

Shahid Afridi comes under fire for sexist remarks in autobiography

This comes after the cricket star's admission that he refuses to let his daughters play outdoor sports.
14 May, 2019

Former Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi batted away accusations of misogyny this week as critics lashed out at the cricket star’s admission that he refuses to let his daughters play outdoor sports.

The remarks were just the latest controversy stemming from Afridi’s tell-all autobiography -- 'Game Changer' -- released in Pakistan and India last week.

"It’s for social and religious reasons that I’ve made this decision regarding my daughters not competing in public sporting activities and their mother agrees with me," wrote Afridi.

"The feminists can say what they want; as a conservative Pakistani father, I’ve made my decision," he added.

Read: Shahid Afridi says it wasn't easy to convince his father to let him play cricket

In the book, the cricketer also unleashed withering criticism against old teammates -- including erstwhile World Cup captain and current Prime Minister Imran Khan -- and admitted to being slightly older than previously reported, drawing accusations he was not the youngest player to set the record for scoring 100 runs in an international.

However, his comments about his four daughters -- who are aged between 10 and 20 years old -- may have proven to be the most galling to the public with social media users labeling the all-rounder a "misogynist" and "hypocrite".

"Afridi is no better than a typical middle-aged average Pakistani guy, who wouldn’t mind hanging out with someone else’s daughters but would balk if his own did the same," tweeted Salman Siddiq.

“His daughters, his decisions? Really?? So the girls' voices and choices don't matter? Not even when they're adults? Because #FatherHasSpoken,” added Asha Bedar on Twitter.

Pakistani author Bina Shah also roasted Afridi, telling the BBC his decision was an example of "Pakistani macho culture that says I am the father, I can say what my daughters are going to do and not do, and there is not a thing that you can do to stop me."

Others pointed to the examples set by other athletes on the issue, including Egyptian football star at Liverpool Mohamed Salah who has advocated for the equal treatment of women in the Islamic world.

Salah made headlines over the weekend after a viral video showed him proudly celebrating as his four-year-old daughter scored a goal ahead of Liverpool's last game of the season at Anfield.

But back in Pakistan, Afridi pushed back at the criticism.

"I don't judge anyone or meddle in people's life," Afridi tweeted on Sunday.

"I expect the same too from others. May Allah bless my daughters and daughters/women all over the world! Let people be. My daughters are very precious to me! My life revolves around them."

Afridi retired from professional cricket in 2016 but he continues to be a mainstay on Pakistani television, frequently starring in commercials while also attending high-profile sporting events.

Comments

M. Saeed May 14, 2019 08:12pm
Afridi speaks out of the sportsman Shahid and Afridi is no sports any.
Recommend
bhaRAT© May 14, 2019 08:45pm
He made misogynist remarks against our women cricketers too.
Recommend
bhaRAT© May 14, 2019 08:46pm
@M. Saeed What did you say?
Recommend
Thinking May 14, 2019 08:52pm
I wonder what Sana Mir must be thinking. These ladies take Pak two steps ahead and Afridi like people will take Pak four steps backwards
Recommend
Faif May 14, 2019 08:57pm
Afridi is a typical Pakistani.
Recommend
Sikander May 14, 2019 09:21pm
He is rich and famous , he can afford, he can have double standards, he can say anything. Had he been poor or needy , he would have sent his daughters outdoors to get confidence and earn for themselves later in their lives.
Recommend
Gokarn May 14, 2019 10:16pm
You can't treat daughters as your personal property. They have equal right to get opportunities. I don't think Pakistan's constitution bar them in any form. Afridi's act is unconstitutional and uncalled for.
Recommend
Gujjar May 14, 2019 10:23pm
I am not a fan of Afridi as he should have retired long ago. But I agree with him on this. No one has the right to interfere in how he is bringing up his children . How would they like it if someone told them how to live their lives?
Recommend
Harime Khan May 14, 2019 10:37pm
That really is being on the same bandwagon as almost all Pakistani men. Which game did you change? Definitely not cricket and now with your outlook on life, I wonder if you changed your own image for worse.
Recommend
Ibrahim May 15, 2019 12:17am
His editors should have removed those passages.
Recommend
Afnan May 15, 2019 12:21am
90% of Pakistani men are sexist, so what the big deal ??? In general 60% of all men are sexist, period.
Recommend
s May 15, 2019 12:53am
People can't impose their views on others.He feels what is right for his children and he is just doing that. Others may well see this as being sexist and misogynist and those views voice other people opinions. Let's not judge & impose what we think is right and Afridi should be doing that too.
Recommend
Only May 15, 2019 01:12am
I bet majority Pakistanis have similar opinion.
Recommend
Karim May 15, 2019 01:32am
It's Lala's personal and his family isuue to decide how to spend their lives. I don't know why people react on personal and family issues.
Recommend
SA May 15, 2019 02:24am
It may be his opinion but children are not parents property regardless boy or girl. Once they cross adulthood they have the right to their own decisions, you can oppose it but you cannot stop them.
Recommend
harry May 15, 2019 02:36am
"Afridi is no better than a typical middle-aged average Pakistani guy, who wouldn’t mind hanging out with someone else’s daughters but would balk if his own did the same," True. Hypocrisy is synonymous with most Muslim men.
Recommend
Daskalos May 15, 2019 03:08am
Shahid Afridi is an imbecile as the whole world knows. He is also part of Pakistan's most backward tribal society , among the most violent , bigoted and misogynistic in the whole world. Pakistan is a victim of these primitive , fanatical systems. We tend to glorify these instead of condemning them and our present abysmal conditions will never change until we fully reject these pathetic anachronisms and move to do a secular, liberal society.
Recommend
Ga May 15, 2019 04:26am
He can call it social and cultural reasons but do not call it religous. He just condemned all the Muslim sportswomen as going against religion. Very irresponsible statement. Good with the bat and ball but not much with the brain.
Recommend
Aamir May 15, 2019 05:45am
A big slap on faces of liberals.
Recommend
ukasha rajpoot May 15, 2019 06:03am
why his parents allowed him to play outside.
Recommend
Zulfiqar May 15, 2019 06:47am
@M. Saeed it’s good to think before typing
Recommend
jaredlee007 May 15, 2019 06:55am
He is NOT an educated man, don't expect anything wise from him. He is just a cricketer, nothing else.
Recommend
Imran Khan May 15, 2019 08:10am
Thats his daughters and he has all the right to make decision
Recommend
Saeed May 15, 2019 08:22am
@M. Saeed awesome comment. Keep it up.
Recommend
Nazia May 15, 2019 09:08am
This is appalling how this man gets away with such misogynistic comments. Afridi, this is 2019! Grow up, man!
Recommend
kabeelakhan May 15, 2019 10:00am
@M. Saeed what exactly did you mean?
Recommend
Syed irfan ali May 15, 2019 10:50am
Not surprised. Only education changes your mindset.
Recommend
Patriot May 15, 2019 10:53am
Afridi, like most Pakistani male, wants his daughter to remain at home protected from the evil influences and let his son goggle at pretty girls outside. He is the product of his culture.
Recommend
fairplay May 15, 2019 11:01am
Let him and his wife raise their kids as they want, it is their right.
Recommend
Khalid Niaz May 15, 2019 12:57pm
I agree with Mr. Afridi that his personal life is personal and need not be discussed, however, I want to remind him that if he thinks his personal matter should not be discussed then he should not put these opinions in his book at the first place. Once someone put his opinion in a public medium it is intended that personal opinion is put in open for the public to accept or reject and this is what people are doing.
Recommend
Ahmad Ali May 15, 2019 02:53pm
Lala is in our hearts, what so called liberals say about him doesn't matter.
Recommend
Zich May 15, 2019 04:51pm
Protecting and grabbing their rights are two different things, this also revealed his thoughts towards sports which made him so special. Really sadden to know.
Recommend
Adil May 15, 2019 10:32pm
@s he should follow what he preaches though.
Recommend
Omar May 16, 2019 08:05am
I don't know why Shahid Afridi is even popular. The man lacks cricket talent and brains .... there's really no basis for his ongoing celebrity ....
Recommend
Laila May 16, 2019 07:44pm
@Gujjar Well considering at least one of his daughters is an adult, it is disturbing to see misogyny and a girl being forced to give up any hopes or dreams she may have because her misogynist father. An adult should be able to decide for themselves, after all.
Recommend
Brian May 17, 2019 03:07am
The irony! ...I just noticed another article with Afridi bemoaning how is father would not allow him to play cricket (and also beat him). Such attitudes/standards of upbringing unfortunately get passed down generations. I am sorry for his daughters ...unable to enjoy the outdoors... especially when he went through the same.
Recommend