Knowingly, or unknowingly, desis have made speaking in English a standard. Knowing how to speak English well is considered synonymous with being intelligent and educated. And those who speak in their mother tongue and other regional languages are often bullied by people in our society.
When it comes to cricketers, they are expected to speak English to the dot while interacting with journalists during press conferences and interviews. However, Pakistani cricketer Naseem Shah recently proved that there is no harm in not being able to speak in English.
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Ahead of Pakistan’s series against the touring English side, Naseem Shah, at a press conference, humbly accepted that his English-speaking skills aren’t that great. According to Times Now, he tried to answer as many questions as he could in Hindi but there was this one journalist who asked for his opinion on James Anderson, who is one of the finest bowlers in the world.
“He is a legend and he did a lot of hard work. We have learned a lot of things from him and whenever we meet, we discuss a few things. He is 40 years old, he is still fit and playing so that shows the amount of hard work he is putting in,” he said in English.
But when the journalist started asking another question in English, Naseem Shah respectfully said, “Brother, I have just 30% English, it’s finished now.”
Have a look at the video here:
Brother @iNaseemShah mast kheliye aur badhiya kheliye. English na aana koi badi baat nahi hai.
Even our Neeraj Chopra can’t speak in English, but what he has achieved is incredible ♥️ Mehnat aur achievement ke aage ye sab chize chhoti ho jati hai. 🤗 pic.twitter.com/RDOy1L2p2N
— Avinash Aryan (@AvinashArya09) November 29, 2022
His hilarious response united Indian and Pakistani cricket fans who not just lauded his humility but also pointed out that his job is to play cricket well and not speak exemplary English.
Exactly, the game does matter, not your foreign language, at least, he didn’t pretend like complexed pro max people.
— Ammaraarshad (@Ammaraarshad072) November 30, 2022
Bhai hum English ko standard bana liya hai.
— Farooq Ahmed (@FarooqA04765400) November 29, 2022
He is honest,no show off and no fake accent this what matters alot 💗💯🔥 love u @iNaseemShah 💚…. secondly this is not our mother tougue so we are proud of him …super confident and talented boy MashAllah 👑
— Nadi KHILADII Akkian 💎 (@NADIKHILADI) November 29, 2022
True, have never seen Ronaldo or Messi being targeted on their language skills, and they don’t even try to learn English.. prefer their on language.. it’s only cricket and subcontinent where we criticise players for not speaking a foreign language
— Zaban E Khalq زبانِ خلق (@Zaban_e_Khalq) November 29, 2022
His job is not to know English. This colonial mindset has to go. His job is to take wickets. As long as he does that it doesn’t matter which language he speaks.
— Sharad Goswami (@sharadgoswamis) November 29, 2022
Messi and many football players cant speak English, in UFC many Great fighters like Charles olivera (former UFC Champ), alex periera (Current UFC champ) and many fighter can’t speak English..
Bhai ya sirf india pak ma hota hai k English na aye to ham mazak uratay hn— Naͥveͣeͫd Afridian (@naveedk135) November 29, 2022
75 years yet both the countries couldn’t come out of colonial mindset. His job is to play cricket and he is doing it pretty well
— Ahmed Abbasi 🇵🇰 (@Ahmed_Naeem62) November 29, 2022
Any english is fail against the spell he bowled in the T20 final. Bloody super spell.
— Shashank Pote (@shashank_pote) November 29, 2022
Confidence is important bas that is all you need as a player when you give press conferences. Language mei kya rakha hai samajhnay walay samajh jayenge ✌🏼
— EleenaPCT (@PctEleena) November 29, 2022
That is precisely my point. They are selected on the basis of their cricketing abilities, not their English-speaking abilities. And they must feel proud even speaking their native language.
— Zeeshan Ahmad (@ziishanahmad) November 29, 2022
Naseem English is 30 percent but his talent and confidence is 110 percent #naseemshah
— Dua Naseem shah bias❤️ (@Anas882121621) November 29, 2022
Want to appreciate naseem shah, the way he said that he knows only 30% english. This is beautiful the way he accepted it in press conference. #ENGvsPAK
— TUBA🍁 (@introverteeeeed) November 29, 2022
Maybe we all can learn some level of confidence from him!