Pakistani journalist Mansoor Ali Khan has landed in controversy along with former bowler Muhammad Asif as the two trade verbal blows.
In a recent YouTube video, the journalist slammed former cricketer Ijaz Ahmed’s remarks about Pashtoon cricketers. Ijaz Ahmed had said on ARY, “Almost 80 percent of Pakistan’s cricket team comprises players from remote areas or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Even if the team is made from Sindh, seven to eight players are Pathan. They have neither the education nor the exposure, which is why these players cannot handle the pressure.”
Many former and current cricketers slammed his racist remarks and urged him to apologize.
Mansoor also criticised his words saying, “In the past three cricketers were detained in match-fixing, not one of them was Pashtoon, they all belonged to Punjab.”
Those three cricketers were Muhammad Asif, Salman Butt and Muhammad Amir but Mansoor was careful not to name anyone in the video.
After Mansoor’s video came out, he allegedly received a call from Muhammad Asif.
He said in another video, “A fixer calls me and asks why you are bringing me into this controversy? What was the need for you to talk about this?”
Mansoor said that he replied, “What do you mean, are you not a match-fixer? You did match-fixing, and this will remain with you your whole life. Also, I didn’t mention you anywhere in the video, I said this in another context.”
Mansoor also mentions that the ‘fixer’ has threatened him too.
Now, Muhammad Asif has also released a video, saying, “I just heard about Ijaz Ahmed remarks, and I also condemn them. He was wrong. But who are you to assassinate anyone’s character? Do you have the license to do so?”
Talking about match-fixing, Asif said, “Yes, I did match-fixing in the past and got punished for it. I called you just because you made a whole video about me. It has been 14 years. My children are growing, and so are yours. What do they think about me? This is not good.”
In 2010, national cricketers Muhammad Asif, Muhammad Amir and Salman Butt were suspended in a match fixing scandal by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
