PSL: Javed Miandad comes in defence of Imran Khan's 'phateechar' remark

Karachi: Former Pakistan skipper Javed Miandad has come to defence of cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan, who is facing the heat following his controversial 'phateechar' remark regarding the foreign players in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final.

Imran, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief, in an internal party meeting, had reportedly branded the international players who came for the PSL final played in Lahore as 'phateechar' (shabby).

"I don't even know the name of any of these so-called foreign players. They just picked up players from wherever. Some random players from Africa and called them foreign players," Imran said, before adding that such players would have willingly come to play domestic cricket in Pakistan anyway for the money they were being paid.

In the same video from the party meet, the PTI chief explained his comment by saying that top talent did not come for the match, which was implied to constitute a failure for the organisers.

Following this comment, Imran had to face a lot of backlash on the social media.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) Faisal Sabzwari said that Imran's comments sounded racist while Minister of State for Information Marriyyum Aurangzeb said the petty words used by the cricketer-turned politician were a "reflection of his mentality".

Coming to Imran's defence, Miandad, in a TV show said, "These are regular cricketing terms and every cricketer knows them."

"In Karachi we have been using these terms from ages," the Express Tribune quoted Miandad as saying.

The former skipper also asked those criticizing Imran to try and grasp the complete context of the derogatory term.

"I don't consider them problematic at all, because I know the background of these terms," he said.

Miandad further said that the hot topic these days should be PSL chairman Najam Sethi's baseless allegation that England batsman Kevin Pietersen did not participate in the final due to Khan's remarks.

"It is a huge allegation, and it needs to be highlighted, especially after Pietersen has come out and clarified that it was his own decision and Imran Khan had nothing to do with it," said Miandad.

He insisted that the English players never play if there is a security risk and that is a fact known by all.

Pietersen, and other known quantities such as New Zealander Nathan McCullum and Englishman Luke Wright did not show up for the PSL final which was held in Lahore on March 5, citing security fears.

However, well known international players, who happen to be black in the victorious Peshawar Zalmi squad - Darren Sammy and Marlon Samuels - participated in the summit clash.