Mohammad Hafeez Shares Photos with Wanted Preacher Zakir Naik
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Synopsis
On March 7, former Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Hafeez posted photos of his meeting with fugitive preacher Zakir Naik, facing backlash for the association. Naik, wanted by Indian authorities for inciting hate, has found refuge in Malaysia. Hafeez also criticized former cricketers for not establishing a legacy for future generations.
Key Takeaways
- Mohammad Hafeez met fugitive preacher Zakir Naik.
- Naik is wanted by the NIA for promoting religious hatred.
- Hafeez faced criticism for the meeting.
- He discussed the lack of legacy from past cricketers.
- The 2017 Champions Trophy win inspired future players.
New Delhi, March 7 (NationPress) Former all-rounder from Pakistan Mohammad Hafeez shared images of his meeting with the fugitive Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, who is currently visiting Pakistan.
On X, Hafeez posted photos with Naik and mentioned, "Pleasure meeting with Dr Zakir Naik".
Zakir Naik, a contentious religious figure, has been declared wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in illegal activities and for fostering religious animosity. In 2017, authorities in Bangladesh reported that one of the assailants in the attack on a café in Dhaka was influenced by Zakir Naik.
This tragic event resulted in the deaths of 22 individuals. Later that same year, India's NIA accused Naik of engaging in unlawful actions and inciting religious hatred.
Since then, he has taken refuge in Malaysia, where he has been granted asylum and continues to manage his organizations, including Peace TV based in Dubai and the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) located in Mumbai.
However, Hafeez has faced significant criticism on social media for his association with this controversial figure.
Recently, Hafeez expressed his disappointment regarding former Pakistani cricketers, stating they have failed to leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
"I admire those who played during the 1990s, but in terms of legacy, they achieved nothing for Pakistan. They did not secure an ICC event victory - losing in the (World Cups of) 1996, 1999, and 2003. We reached the final in 1999 and suffered a heavy defeat. They were superstars, yet they could not inspire us with an ICC win," Hafeez remarked during a television interview.
"We went through challenging times, losing the final of the T20 World Cup in 2007. However, we triumphed in 2009 under Younis Khan's captaincy, which inspired the younger generation. A regrettable incident then occurred in Pakistan cricket, from which we have yet to recover.
"Our victory in the 2017 Champions Trophy was a significant inspiration. Babar Azam is idolized today, partly because he was present during that event, even if he did not play a major role. This is the ICC victory that the superstars of the 1990s failed to achieve, despite their immense talent," he concluded.
