Pakistan

Imran Khan in eye of storm over 'vile' comments about foreign PSL players

Video surfaces of PTI chief branding international players who came for the PSL final as 'pateechar'

News Desk March 06, 2017

PHOTO: FACEBOOK

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan was at the receiving end on Monday after a video surfaced in which the party leader made derogatory comments about international players who attended the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final in Lahore.

[brid video="119496" player="7247" title="Imran Khan in eye of storm over 'pateechar' comment about foreign PSL players"]

In what seems to be an internal party meeting, Khan is seen branding international players who came for the PSL final as 'phateechar'.

"I don't even know the name of any of these so-called foreign players. It seems they just picked up players from wherever. Picked some from Africa and called them foreign players," said Khan.

Imran khan making fun of International cricketers in his Press conference according to Him WC winner Summay is :

pic.twitter.com/h9A0IjFTI5
— iffi (@iffiViews) March 6, 2017

The video quickly went viral on social media where the PTI chief was heavily censured for using 'vile' and 'racist' language against foreign players, such as Darren Sammy who helped make the event a success.

It was special to play in Lahore infront of such passionate ppl. @PeshawarZalmi #Champions but Cricket was the winner #MoreThanJustAGame pic.twitter.com/RgImqfzNa2
— Daren Sammy (@darensammy88) March 5, 2017

Here's how people reacted to the PTI chief's comments:

This is so vile and racist that I am thoroughly disappointed in Imran Khan. Genuinely respected his integrity. He is showing he has none. https://t.co/Wy5vLASUFv
— Abbas Nasir (@abbasnasir59) March 6, 2017

https://twitter.com/Nadir_Hassan/status/838817489790316544

This 'Phateechar' player was able to win the hearts of millions of Pakistanis ... can some one please tell his name to Imran Khan. pic.twitter.com/pJyLirWaRy
— Mansoor Ali Khan (@_Mansoor_Ali) March 6, 2017

Dirty words used by Imran Khan ag great & respectable foreign players who visited #Pakistan to play #PslFinalLahore are painful & unbearable
— Ahmad Noorani (@Ahmad_Noorani) March 6, 2017

Dude @ImranKhanPTI you just scored an own goal.
— SIR .. (@SirJohnRoe) March 6, 2017

I think Imran khan is soon entering the Altaf Bhai league..PTI should soon make a "rabita committee" to clean all shit he utters when stoned
— sherry (@CherieDamour_) March 6, 2017

Absolutely disgusting comments by Imran Khan regarding foreign players & even worse those trying to defend or spin it.
— Osama. (@ashaqeens) March 6, 2017

https://twitter.com/Emclub7/status/838817745995198464

https://twitter.com/AngryCivilian/status/838824620568498177

Defending the score 59/all out is much easier than defending statements of Imran Khan. #PSL2017
— Shiraz Hassan (@ShirazHassan) March 6, 2017

20 years ago, hell... 5 years ago, could you have imagined Imran Khan being incurably petty & Najam Sethi as the bigger man?

Wal-Asr...
— Mosharraf Zaidi (@mosharrafzaidi) March 6, 2017

Minutes after Punjab government announced holding the Pakistan Super League final in Lahore on March 5, Khan opposed the decision, terming it “madness”.

"God forbid, if any blast takes place in Lahore, there will be no cricket in Pakistan in the next 10 years," he told a private news channel.

"This is madness considering the situation here" he said, referring to the series of bomb blasts which rocked Pakistan. "What's the point of holding the PSL final in Lahore? It isn't even an international match."

It's final. PSL final to be held in Lahore

The PTI leader added, "In my view, it is a terrible idea. We want to hold this match by calling in army and blocking roads and there will be high security. This will not send a good message.”

The decision to play the final fixture in the Punjab capital was put on a hold following a string of bomb blasts and suicide attacks hit the country, particularly Lahore, killing over 100 people.

COMMENTS (52)

fakhra | 7 years ago | Reply Imran khan must be careful while giving any statement he is not only cricketer but also a leader. We love you ik* ....*

Raghu | 7 years ago | Reply @Sultan Alvi: You nailed it Sultan. Thumbs Up!!

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Polpatti | 7 years ago | Reply @Midas: Thats why he has the 2nd largest following in Politics in Pakistan. Get your facts corrected.

Polpatti | 7 years ago | Reply @F Khan: Honestly i think you need to join PMLN and take whole party to doctor.

Afridi | 7 years ago | Reply the Beauty of Politics, one comment and whole Phateechar nation starts forgetting the Panama hearing, the corruption, the billions of dollars sent to India every year, the bombings and deaths and starts "bashing Khan" routine. Khan is absolutely right, any foreigner would have come for money!! he was referring to the players in Quetta's team, use your brains to dig the context.

B A Malik | 7 years ago | Reply Imran Khan's alleged comments on foreign cricket players can not diminish the importance of his powerful campaign against mega corruption of Sharif family.As an objective analyst I believe he should not have uttered such derogatory remarks off or on the record..His critics however are unable to see the whole picture. Statusquo thriving on non issues has unnecessarily made a punching bag of PTI Chairman who deserves respect for his iconic struggle for corruption free Pakistan.. Imran Khan is still the only hope of the country mired in multiple crises.

F Khan | 7 years ago | Reply Honestly I think he needs to see a doctor immediately.

I am a Khan | 7 years ago | Reply @Umar Akmal: I am not standing for PM elections...warped logic of yours to compare a citizen with no political ambitions to a citizen who is eyeing to be PM...This IK guy has proved time and again that he is not PM material.

Janjua | 7 years ago | Reply Amazed to read that people (PTI followers) are even favouring such a racy and phateechar statement.

Sultan Alvi | 7 years ago | Reply @ Raj - USA: Many thanks for your contribution. Unfortunately, your comments are not factual. You say that "Pakistanis have been showering hospitality, love and affection to the foreign players to compensate for their security fears and make them feel at home" is incorrect. Pakistanis by nature are very generous and hospitable, as anyone who has visited Lahore can easily confirm. We are NOT trying to compensate them or showering our love and affection on these foreign players. It is just part of our nature to look after our foreign guests, once they are here. Imran Khan is not using any derogatory language for these foreign players who were picked to represent the Quetta Gladiators' team. These were some no-name average players that we had never heard of, and Imran has used our local word 'Phateechar' for them. The word Phateechar means average, and it was the appropriate word to describe them. So where is the problem with Imran Khan? Unfortunately, Pakistan is currently governed by a Mafia regime, whose head is our highly corrupt and Panama-famed PM, Nawaz Sharif. Not just Imran, but the whole nation is crying for his ouster. GO NAWAZ GO has become the slogan for every Pakistani. These are the real facts as we see them here. Truth Doesn't Hurt, Lies Do.

Haroon | 7 years ago | Reply IK has become mad in his hate for Nawaz Sharif. He has gone to a point of no return. He is destroying his own image as well as image of Pakistan. No patriotic Pakistani can favour his statement. I feel pity for PTI followers who are blindly favouring his statement.

Wiki | 7 years ago | Reply I have never heard anything good from Imran's mouth. He is always busy in abusing, protesting and telling lies.

Dilshad | 7 years ago | Reply What else can be expected from a disgusting and 3rd class politician. Shame for IK.

Muneer | 7 years ago | Reply @Newton: They were hired and paid to come here to play cricket.There are lot of foreign visitors who comes to Pakistan voluntarily without the security provided to these players for 2-3 days.

Midas | 7 years ago | Reply He is the same in politics for what he called these players of cricket.

DP Gilani | 7 years ago | Reply PSL final at Lahore was a memorable event for several reasons.The excitement that the match generated was palpable and the euphoria that it created continues to warm the heart of cricket lovers. Most importantly, the image that India and its allies have sought to present to the world about the adverse security environment in Pakistan was convincingly shattered. It is the responsibility of the state to provide security to its citizens.You may like to reassure yourself on this point by looking at video footage of armed troops and police manning checkpoints in Paris, Brussels and at every other location where a terrorist incident has occurred.

Newton | 7 years ago | Reply All foreign crickets who come to Pakistan to plays in the PSL are brave heros we should be grateful, IMRAN Khan totally wrong for saying what he said

mrashidhai | 7 years ago | Reply IK has certainly used two humbling words against some, not all, foreign players, which he should have done. But try to understand what he is saying between the lines.Was really PSL final worth proud of?

Abrar R | 7 years ago | Reply Ask people who bet their money on Quetta to win to describe the players they got. Phateechar won't be on the list I can tell u that. And for heavens sake these were not guests, they charged one off payment to play in Lahore. Sammy charged 50k USD. Imran IA absolutely spot on, the folks we got would even go to Syria to play.

kemosabe | 7 years ago | Reply Its good to have an opposition in politics and a counterweight in society, albeit a brain-damaged one.

Umar Akmal | 7 years ago | Reply @I am a Khan: and please tell us what you have contributed before you comment about anyone else?

Danish | 7 years ago | Reply Imran Khan called it like it is . True and blunt . Sadly , our nation has no standards and will not understand what he said.

Farah | 7 years ago | Reply glad to know that there are some people like you who got the point & did not react to an out of context word. Pakistan is known for producing world class players and holding international matches with full zeal. We should be smart enough to figure out how the leaders of any profession may it be playoffs, economic reforms or money laundering play with innocent avg Pakistani minds and get away with it. Khan might not have used the right word but he has a very valid point. We shouldn't be desperate to see below avg foreign players on our grounds and claim that we have invited the best!

Sultan Alvi | 7 years ago | Reply Mr. Humza: This matter is not about objectivity but of understanding. Imran Khan is the most honest leader we have in Pakistan. He always tells the truth the way he sees it. We can easily see what he is trying to say and agree with his viewpoint. The priority for the nation should be to get rid of our corrupt politicians (Nawaz and Zardari) ASAP, and not try to play a T20 match in Lahore under such tight security. Playing a match will not end terrorism, but removing the corrupt people from the top will have an impact on the overall corruption. If after Panama leaks, you still want to follow Nawaz Sharif, go ahead. This is the real problem, not the T20 match. No body is more loyal and patriotic than Imran Khan, and we love him for what he is. May God bless Pakistan, and may you see more T20 matches in Lahore.

Darren Sammy | 7 years ago | Reply I think I deserved this for defying everyone and playing in Pakistan.Thank you to he most popular leader of Pakistan for showing me the reality.

Raj - USA | 7 years ago | Reply The point is: Pakistanis have been showering hospitality, love and affection to the foreign players to compensate for their security fears and make them feel at home. Pakistanis have been trying to send a positive image of Pakistan by their acts. This is what Imran Khan is spoiling by speaking derogatory of the foreign players. What will the foreign players feel now when they come to know that all they have seen are just not true? Would they single out Imran Khan or consider all Pakistanis to be the same as Imran Khan? Also, all those who had been shouting slogans against Nawaz Sharif in such highly publicized events in Dubai and also in Lahore have done a lot of harm for Pakistan.

Sahir Masroor | 7 years ago | Reply What we accept from a Third class person.

Humza | 7 years ago | Reply @Sultan Alvi: Why can't PTI supporters be objective? It's not about party politics but a matter of national concern when a few criminals from Afghanistan attack civilians and try to change the free spirit of city like Lahore. I am glad to see the PSL final took place in Lahore without incident. It was shown in the world that Pakistan was not blackmailed or scared by cowards on the payroll of foreign agencies. Try listening to international coverage of the match finals in Lahore from sources outside Pakistan and you will feel pride that Pakistani society pulled off a great event which enjoyed coverage everywhere and highlighted a side of the country that showed people happy and experiencing life with no fear of criminals.

Raghu | 7 years ago | Reply @pervaiz: Please have some shame. He did so much for the country and you have the audacity to point out why he dint do this and that. People like you are thankless people. Who never did any good to Pakistan and are the first ones to criticize if anyone else breaks a match stick.

pervaiz | 7 years ago | Reply @Khawar: he won world çup for Pakistan but he lost world cup twice in 1983 and 1987. who is responsible for these defeats.

Khawar | 7 years ago | Reply @Naheed: He won the world cup for Pakistan. What more do you want? What did you do for pakistan?

Sabeen | 7 years ago | Reply When shall this nation get rid of this failed politician. Imran Khan is suffering from Nawaz Sharif phobia. He has become completely mad in his hate for Nawaz Sharif. Entire nation should appreciate federal government and Punjab government for doing efforts for successful conduct of PSL final. We have never heard any word of appreciation from the mouth of Imran Khan. Opposition does not means always criticizing. Imran is doing opposition for the sake of opposition. He is a complete failure.

Anjum | 7 years ago | Reply Those who are criticizing IK can tell what is the reason behind the defeat of Quetta gladiators???

Saeed Masood | 7 years ago | Reply Imran Khan thinks that going against each and everything will better his cause, In fact he is destroying his own image, he should have come to the Lahore PSL Final match people would have supported him then and appreciated what he was trying to say.Actually he was defaming NS and Sethi not the PSL final..

Pakistani | 7 years ago | Reply Even if he was stonned, there is no excuse for such disrespectful behaviour. He is always talking about Ministers resigning, doing the honourable ting. He ow needs to act honourably.

Naheed | 7 years ago | Reply Disgusting statement by a disgusting politician. Imran can do nothing for Pakistan.

Malak Javid khan | 7 years ago | Reply **Imran khan,u must know,that without Pakistan you are nothing.U were supposed to mature enough to support development n peace process in the country but you yourself proved that you are the biggest (patcheetar) in field of politics,peace and even cricket.We Pakistani nation demand of you to get some maturity.

I am a Khan | 7 years ago | Reply @Khawar: what contribution? apart from winning the 1992 world cup and Shaukat Khanaum...there is no other third contribution...only thousands of nuisances...

Singh | 7 years ago | Reply Imran Khan is still my one of the greatest favourite cricketers. He was right to some extent. Security first when it comes to foreign players. Cricket matches should be held in Pak without the involvement of rangers/army as they used to be held in 70s/80s. Pls wipe out all extremists & bring back cricket to Pakistan.

Khan | 7 years ago | Reply There are people who will defend IK even if he has no clothes on- As far as his supporters (read worshippers) are concerned he can never be wrong, end of story

Irfan | 7 years ago | Reply Thank God, nobody in international world takes Pakistan and our leaders seriously.

Lolz | 7 years ago | Reply Firstly, majority of the people in Pakistan don't have the say. Secondly, few elites would have the say with respect to their profits. This elite would always bend the facts to create virtual realities and impose on the majority through throwing money in media. Imran Khan shared a reality, but no one has the strength to face it and now the ruling elite would name it blasphemy or racism. This delusional celebration of cricket has got nothing to do with the global cricket arena except few ripples in our own pond.

pervaiz. | 7 years ago | Reply He is completely psyche now and cannot come back to normality until becomes PM of Pakistan. Please do not waste your time to suggest any doze to him.

Khawar | 7 years ago | Reply @Hassan Cheema: He sure is the same guy. Sometimes we also say things which we dont mean. The difference is that we are not record every day and hour. He should not have said that. But his contribution to cricket, hospitals and KPK is way much more than this comment.

SM | 7 years ago | Reply This man's arrogance knows no end. The picture says it all.

Fact is Fact | 7 years ago | Reply @Sultan Alvi: and you are understanding everything. Right ? i pity you for being run behind such dictators

Ravian | 7 years ago | Reply From hope and sanity, Imran and his party are descending into hopelessness and stupidity. Mature and educated people initially pinned expectations on PTI initially but now are extremely disappointed by PTI and Imran's childish acts. Some overzealous, immature youthyias still give PTI and Imran the feeling that common people still like his antics.

Saad | 7 years ago | Reply @Sultan.... I just found one of the missing tail's of IK. Thanks for your contribution

Hassan Cheema | 7 years ago | Reply I am upset!!. IK, i not only voted for you but canvassed as well. What are you doing???? Just to shine your own politics, you are rusting Pakistan. I wonder you are the same guy who did so much for Pakistan.

Hasnain Eqbal | 7 years ago | Reply Now this is really sad... With these comments, Imran Khan showed his highly frustrated gesture.... He is against PSL since the show is being run by Najam Sethi. He has gone insane.... should be admitted to a psychiatrist clinic..

Amin sardar | 7 years ago | Reply Quetta gladiators were cheated by announcing the finals in lahore in the mid of the tournament.The agreement they signed with their overseas players that finals is going to be played at Dubai but venue changed as per will of Sethi to appease the Shareef bros.Three of their star studied players KP,Wright and Rosso left for home as per agreement with team management.

Sultan Alvi | 7 years ago | Reply Imran Khan has made the right comments about the PSL final in Lahore, and about the 'Phateechar' no-name foreign players that were picked to replace the foreign players for Quetta Gladiators. We had never even heard their names before. No wonder the final turned out to be so one sided. The thin-skinned Pakistani are just not getting the Imran Khan's point of view.

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