Afridi lambasted over sexist remarks in autobiography

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

The remarks were just the latest controversy stemming from Afridi’s autobiography, “Game Changer”. “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. In the book, the cricketer also unleashed withering criticism against old teammates. However, his comments about his four daughters may have proven to be the most galling to the public with social media users labeling the all-rounder a “misogynist”.

“His daughters, his decisions? Really?? So the girls’ voices and choices don’t matter? Not even when they’re adults? Because #FatherHasSpoken,” said a user on Twitter. Pakistani author Bina Shah also roasted Afridi, telling the BBC his decision was an example of “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. 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.