Date:27/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/27/stories/2007092761821400.htm

National

BJP’s ‘advice’ to Shoaib Malik

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday came out with a piece of advice to Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik: “Do not mix religion with cricket.”

At the end of the ICC World Twenty20 tournament “Shoaib Malik unnecessarily dragged religion into the game of cricket by his remarks assuring Pakistan and Muslims all over the world that the Pakistan team had done its 100 per cent and was sorry it did not win,” BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.

Mr. Javadekar pointed out the irony, especially in the context of Irfan Pathan winning the Man of the Match award.

“Who has given Pakistani players the right to speak for all Muslims?”

Mr. Javadekar appreciated the comments made by Shamim Bano, mother of the Pathan brothers — Irfan and Yousuf — in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. She said: “Shoaib must have said that for his own countrymen. How can he speak for all Muslims of the world?”