'My earlier statement of Hardik was...' - Former Pakistan cricketer clarifies his older statement comparing Hardik Pandya with Kapil Dev

Former Pakistan cricketers always remain in the headlines due to their controversial statements. They even get brutally trolled on social media for their below the belt marks statements. Another former Pakistani cricketer Abdur Razzaq recently opened up on his old statement on India's star allrounder Hardik Pandya.

Hardik is often compared with former legendary Indian cricketer Kapil Dev due to his brilliant bowling and batting display. Razzaq, earlier, in 2020 talked about Hardik's performance and advised him to work on his bowling ability, he even said that the allrounder is nowhere close to Kapil.

“Kapil Dev and Imran Khan are the best all-rounders of all time. Hardik is nowhere near that league. Even I was an all-rounder but it doesn’t mean that I would compare myself with Imran bhai." Kapil Dev was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

I didn't comment on a player who is from India: Abdur Razzaq

Meanwhile, Razzaq has now cleared that his statement was misconstructed by the media. He even praised the star allrounder for his brilliant captaincy. However, he also mentioned that Hardik can work on a couple of things as he thinks that the young Indian player needs to improve those things. Hardik will be seen in action in the upcoming 16th edition of the Indian T20 League which will start on March 31.

"My earlier statement on Hardik Pandya was taken the wrong way. I didn't mean it. As a cricketer, I just said there is scope for improvement in him (Pandya). I didn't comment on a player who is from India, England, or Australia. I just said things as a cricketer. If Kapil Dev says that he wants to give advice to Abdul Razzaq, I will take this statement positively," Razzaq told Times of India.

“He can work on a couple of things which according to him are areas of improvement - in terms of foot movement, bat movement, and how to judge a delivery before it is bowled. That was what I meant earlier. That was just a statement as a former all-rounder. People took it the wrong way and criticised me as well,” Razzaq added