Divorce rate increasing because women are going for jobs: Ex-Pakistan cricketer Saeed Anwar

Islamabad, May 16: In a shocking development, an undated video of former Pakistani cricketer Saeed Anwar making controversial remarks regarding women's empowerment and financial independence went viral on social media. These remarks by Pakistani opening batsman, now commentator have stirred social media controversy for his opinions about women entering the workforce.

Not just this, he also claimed that New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson and an Australian mayor also expressed similar concerns in front of him.

"I have travelled the world. I am just returning from Australia, Europe. Youngsters are suffering, families are in bad shape. Couples are fighting. The state of affairs is so bad that they have to make their women work for money," Saeed Anwar said in a 1.05-minute video.

He is also heard saying, “New Zealand’s captain [for the national men’s cricket team] Kane Williamson called me to ask, ‘How will our society get better?’..." The cricketer also claimed, “Since women have started working in Pakistan, divorce rates have climbed by 30 per cent in the last three years.”

“Since women have started working in Pakistan, divorce rates have climbed by thirty per cent in the last three years. (The wives say) ‘to hell with you, I can earn myself. I can run a household on my own'. This is a whole game plan. You will not understand this game plan unless you find guidance,” Saeed Anwar stressed the ‘risks’ of women embracing financial independence.

Anwar's comments have drawn sharp criticism The Express condemning his views as archaic and harmful, pointing out the importance of women's financial independence and their right to work.

Saeed Anwar is widely regarded as one of the greatest opening batsmen in the history of Pakistani cricket. Anwar represented Pakistan in international cricket from 1989 to 2003, primarily as an opening batsman in both Test matches and One Day Internationals (ODIs).