‘Since women started working...’: Former Pakistan cricketer slammed for sexist comments

Former Pakistan cricketer Saeed Anwar has come under heavy scrutiny following his sexist remarks that divorce rates in the country had shot up due to women entering the workforce.

The undated video of Anwar's unhinged rant has gone viral on social media with netizens questioning how a player of his calibre could have such a narrow worldview. 

“Since women have started working in Pakistan, divorce rates have climbed by 30 per cent in the last three years," Anwar said in the video. 

“The wives say, ‘to hell with you, I can earn myself. I can run a household on my own'. This is a whole game plan. You will not understand this game plan unless you find guidance,” he added.

Anwar also claimed that during his travels abroad, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson had raised the issue of societal disruptions due to women entering the workforce. 

“I have travelled the world. I am just returning from Australia, Europe. Youngsters are suffering, families are in bad shape. Couples are fighting. The state of affairs is so bad that they have to make their women work for money,” Anwar said.

"New Zealand's captain Kane Williamson called me to ask, ‘How will our society get better?'... The Australian mayor said to me, ‘Our culture has been destroyed since our women entered the workforce’," he added. 

Also read | 'What is he drinking?': Harbhajan Singh slams Inzamam-ul-Haq for 'conversion' claims

Misogynistic comments from Pakistani ex-players 

This is not the first instance when a former Pakistani player has been embroiled in controversy for radical statements. Last year, Abdul Razzaq passed sexist comments against Indian actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan after Pakistan men's cricket team crashed out of the World Cup. 

“Younis Khan had good intentions as a captain and it gave me confidence to perform better. Everyone over here is talking about the intention and Pakistan’s team. Actually, we don’t have good intentions to develop and polish players in Pakistan. If you think that by marrying Aishwarya Rai, a good and pious kid would be born, it would never happen," Razzaq said. 

Also read | 'What a terrible thing to say': Abdul Razzaq slammed for controversial remarks on Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

After his statement went viral, cricket fans from both countries slammed Razzaq for his highly misogynistic comments. 

The likes of Shahid Afridi and Inzamam-ul-Haq have also made highly objectionable and divisive statements that appear to increase the divide between the two nations. 

Harbhajan Singh recently slammed Inzamam over the latter's comments that the ex-Indian spinner was close to converting his religion after meeting a Muslim scholar. 

(With inputs from agencies)