Zee News anchor Sudhir Chaudhary has long supported the boycott of the Pakistani cricket team in World Cup matches. However, the controversial anchor now stands exposed after he hired Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar as an expert for the ongoing T20 World Cup, being held in the UAE. As expected, netizens including supporters of the Hindutva ideology are begun condemning Chaudhary for his hypocrisy.
In one of his earlier programmes, the controversial anchor had shouted from his TV studio, “India should boycott Pakistan in the World and must not play any match against Pakistan.”
He had even suggested that India must place it as a precondition before the ICC to exclude Pakistan if it wanted India to take part in any international tournaments. “We know that this will result in heavy losses for our players. Cricket sponsors will leave, resulting in monetary losses… But this can’t be bigger than the country.”
Hypocrisy ki seema hoti hai bhai pic.twitter.com/an30CeAtvp
— Anup Agrawal ???????? (@anupagrawal23) October 21, 2021
However, as has been the case with the proponents of fake nationalism in India, Chaudhary’s hypocrisy stood exposed on Thursday when he invited Shoaib Akhtar on his show to discuss the forthcoming India-Pakistan match at the T20 World Cup. He proudly tweeted a video message of Akhtar, “Meet @shoaib100mph and @MohammadKaif on #DNA tonight at 9 pm on @ZeeNews.”
Meet @shoaib100mph and @MohammadKaif on #DNA tonight at 9 pm on @ZeeNews #IndVsPakOnZee #SabseBadaMauka pic.twitter.com/MIPxm2oxKg
— Sudhir Chaudhary (@sudhirchaudhary) October 21, 2021
Former cricketers of any repute charge lakhs of rupees for their appearances on TV channels. According to Zee News, the former Pakistani fast bowler has been hired as an expert for the entire duration of the T20 World Cup. The Zee News website said, “India and Pakistan will be facing each other for the T20 World Cup match, to be played on 24 October. Pakistan have not been able to defeat India in World Cup. We hereby inform that Mohammad Kaif and Shoaib Akhtar will be seen analysing the T20 World Cup on Zee News.”
As expected, netizens took to social media to highlight Chaudhary’s hypocrisy;
Sudhir Chaudhary is using clips of Pakistan cricket legend Shoaib Akhtar to promote his show. Republic TV is running Byjus ads with SRK as its brand ambassador. They get richer, while their shows fuel hatred. Where's the real outrage?
— Shruti Sonal (@shrutisonal26) October 21, 2021
What an Irony!!
While BJP leaders & Andhabhakts are opposing India-Pakistan cricket match,
Home minister Amit Shah's son Jay Shah is ensuring this game happens.
Sudhir Chowdhury perfect Deshbhakt hosting Pak players ????????
What's going on ??
Double standard game ????????
— Susmita Mazumdar (@Susmita_Speaks) October 21, 2021
Odd day : Boycott playing with pakistan
Even day : Invite Pakistani cricketers as guest on show
Both in same frame.
This is called business/D@lali @sudhirchaudhary https://t.co/KRyMXx40DX
— A.J. (@beingabhi2712) October 22, 2021
Sudhir ji..I dont watch news so much.. whenever I get time, use to watch your show DNA…but today I really got hurt. It means all your talk on pakistan just like other …just for TRP and not like a real INDIAN as must be .
— Dr. Jitendra Kumar (@drjitendrakumar) October 21, 2021
How shameless is that chutiya Sudhir Chaudhary? Was actively asking for the BCCI to boycott the World Cup game with Pakistan two years back and shaming other channels for even covering it. And now spreads his legs for Shoaib Akhtar.
— ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (@NarovaKunjarova) October 21, 2021
Bhakts boycotting #T20WorldCup India Pakistan match and their master @sudhirchaudhary enjoying cricket with Pakistan fast bowler ????????????
— Rajesh Singh ???? (@Rajesh002) October 21, 2021
This is just another example of how Indian TV anchors, often ridiculed as lapdogs, have exploited average Indians with their fake narrative on nationalism. Their hate-filled propaganda has severely divided Indian society in the last seven years. However, the question remains if Indians would see the real agenda of these ‘lapdogs’ and learn to never fall prey to their propaganda in future.