Bazid Khan, Pakistani commentator and former cricketer rejoicing ‘Kufr’s defeat’ after India lost to Pakistan in its first ‘super 12’ game of T20 World Cup has stirred a controversy on social media.

Khan while interviewing the winning captain Babar Azam, in a post-match presentation ceremony remarked, “Lekin kufr to toot gaya,” to which Azam replied, “All because of Allah.”

The usage of the term ‘kufr’ by an International Cricket Council (ICC) presenter at an official ceremony has led to an outrage. 

Netizens react

Ironically, the netizens were in ‘disbelief’ on the usage of the term meaning ‘non-believer’ at an ICC cricketing event.

Meanwhile this gem from @ICC approved TV Channels & Jihadi commentators – dutifully paid dues by @BCCI & @JayShah “𝗞𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗮𝘆𝗮” (the infidel has been destroyed). Jihadi Babur “Yeh Allah ka shukkar hai” (this is the blessings of Allah),” Tweeted Abhijit-Iyer Mitra. 

Former IAS officer Sanjay Dixit asked, “Will @ICC suspend this presenter and take action against Pakistan team? Will @BCCI even demand action, or will happily swallow the racist religious slur of kufr?

Taking offence to the Indian cricket team ‘kneeling’ in solidarity to a foreign political movement, a social media user said, “While Indian team shamelessly takes the knee, @ICC presenter and Pakistani team captain make the racist religious slur of ‘kufr’. @BCCI should pressurise @ICC to take action against both this rogue racist presenter and the Pakistani captain.”

While several linguistic experts tried defending the term ‘kufr’, another Twitter user explained what the idiom actually means. “In case you are wondering what kufr toot gaya means, it comes from the idiom. “Laye us butt (idols) ko iltija kar ke, kufr (non-Muslim) tuta khuda khuda karke” Translation: “Idols prayed by kafir (non-Muslim) were finally broken, and Islam won,” the user Tweeted.