Harbhajan Singh, the former Indian cricketer, has refused to accept Kamran Akmal’s apology for his disparaging comment regarding the Sikh religion. Despite Akmal issuing a public apology to Harbhajan the day before, Singh expressed forgiveness but emphasized the harm caused by the “insensible” and “absurd” statement made by the former Pakistan wicketkeeper. During a T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan, Akmal, as part of ARY News’ broadcast panel, targeted the religion of Arshdeep Singh, who was bowling the final over of the match.
After facing severe criticism from Harbhajan and other prominent former cricketers, Akmal swiftly apologized, admitting deep regret for his remarks and expressing respect for the Sikh community. However, Harbhajan remained firm, highlighting the seriousness of the issue and cautioning Akmal to choose his words carefully in the future.
Harbhajan denounced Akmal’s statement as absurd and childish, reminding him of the historical contributions of Sikhs and warning against making fun of any religion. He stressed the need for mutual respect among all religious communities and urged Akmal to refrain from causing offense in the future.
Harbhajan and Akmal have a history of clashes during India vs Pakistan matches, including heated exchanges in 2009 and 2012. In one such incident in 2012, both players were fined after a heated argument during a T20I match between India and Pakistan. Despite the fines, tensions remained high, reflecting the intense rivalry between the two cricketing nations.
