I am completely clueless about where to start. I also have no idea if I should worry about the conventional formate and bring our ratings up considering the SEO tools or just follow my heart. I think it is time to do the latter; what come may. Sometimes you can just not follow your mind and logic as the heart overpowers. It happened a few years ago but still fills my heart with angst and anguish. The title is too suggestive for my liking, yes. It is about Shahid Afridi’s recent statement (as if this came as a surprise.)
We have seen the famous cricketer Shahid Afridi as a doting father with his daughters cheering for him in almost every match they play. Their faces also drop down when daddy dearest isn’t at his very best on the field. Recently in an interview, Shahid Afridi stated
‘The feminists can say what they want, my daughters are not allowed to play outdoor sports .’
My daughters forbidden to play outdoor sports: Shahid Afridi https://t.co/61waKGkxUt via @TOISports pic.twitter.com/UFfPNFMCoN
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) May 12, 2019
Coming this from any father in today’s age and time is a shock but coming this from Shahid Afridi who owes all the name and fame to cricket this is a jolting mini earthquake. Coming from a society that puts all the blame on the affected person, here I would also like to blame myself for being taken aback out of disappointment. Is it even new? The same skipper also thought that Pakistan Women Cricket Team members should better focus on their roti rounding skills than winning accolades for Pakistan. Interestingly, around the same timing, these girls scored and performed much better than their male counterparts.
There is only one good side to this story and that is the fact that his regressive statement set social media ablaze. Here and there you could see people boiling in rage. I don’t know if it is the fault in Afridi’s stars or some stardust on former skipper Sana Mir’s stars that she was rated to be ODI’s most successful woman spinner. The timeline is ironically the same.
https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1127536014208196608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenews.com.pk%2Flatest%2F470419-sana-mir-becomes-most-successful-womens-odi-spinner-in-the-world
In the meantime footballer Mo Salah’s daughter’s video has also been doing rounds who daughter wanted to score a goal at Anfield after her dad won the Golden Boot. If we have fathers like Shahid Afridi who want their daughters to fit the stereotypical standards for women we also have fathers like Mo Salah whose daughter is set already to score goals. For all little girls their daddy is the first hero. It is sad how some girls have their wings clipped by their own ‘heroes’. We do not know what these little girls aspire to be but we certainly know that sports is a forbidden domain for them.
Meanwhile our dearest #Pakistani cricketers think their daughters shouldn’t play outdoor sports. The irony, ingratitude and the utter stupidity of that statement baffles me. May there be more fathers like @MoSalah and may more girls score goals against the culture of segregation. https://t.co/ZteUArSBEz
— Aisha Fayyazi Sarwari (@AishaFSarwari) May 13, 2019
We know you love your daughters to the moon and back Shahid Afridi but maybe your love shouldn’t come with the conditions. Also, this is confusing. Are they allowed to pursue their ambitions as long as those fit your mould?
My daughters are very precious to me! My life revolves around them. They all have some ambitions in life and I will support them while guiding them as a responsible father 1/2
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) May 12, 2019
And guys, you are NOT allowed to comment over it. At least, the tweet suggests so.
I don't judge anyone for what they do or meddle in people's life. I expect the same too from others. May Allah bless my daughters and daughters/women all over the world! Let people be. @fifiharoon @Independent
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) May 12, 2019
Maybe Shahid Afridi needs to take some notes from Sana Mir and Mo Salah. It is important for celebrities to understand their influence and use it for the best. We wish all little girls have the freedom they deserve. We want daddies to know that given a chance their daughters can be Sana Mir one day. Is it too much to wish for?