The perpetual problem of Pakistani players not staying to meet fans, compared to the Australians

[pakistanigoneaussie]

So I went to the match at Maunka today. Over the years I have witnessed many humilations on Australian/kiwi soil but this match, while dissapointing still had plenty of entertainment.

I was fortunate enough to meet the team at an event hosted by the Pakistani High Commision, and based off that, I have only positive things to say. However at the time i was curious to see if anything changed during match day, and sadly nothing did.

After the match, I couldn't see a single Pakistani player stick around to sign autographs for the kids, bar Shadab who did a few. They all marched off straight away, and it wasn't like it was a hostile enviroment.

Compare this to the Australian players, where Smith, Warner and Cummings all took their time to greet the fans.

Cummings in particular is a champ, he went over to where the bulk of the Pakistan fans were located and took pictures, and signatures with every single one who wanted it. I suspect he must have been there for close to 20-30 min after the match.

At this time, no pakistani player was in sight. It is very dissapointing, i dont know if they had instructions to come off, but if they did, the managment is wrong. The impression once can easily get is that they love the glitzy events hosted by Embassies and VIPs but not to mingle with ordinary people.

This match was like a home game for Pakistan. The attendence was around 9,000, and i wouldnt be suprised if close to 6,000 of that were Pakistani fans.

Many were here for their first game, coming in from regional towns.

I know this post, wont mean anything, but its something I have wanted to say after years watching the team in various countries.

Their are some exceptions overall though, neither were here, and i dont like them as players, but I have always found Malik, Kamran and Asad Shafiq willing to give time to the fans, if only more could follow their example, or better yet follow Cummings.

 

[hussain.r97]

I've attended quite a few Pakistan games here in New Zealand, and from observation they only come out for autographs if they win.

 

[Danyaalr01]

So I went to the match at Maunka today. Over the years I have witnessed many humilations on Australian/kiwi soil but this match, while dissapointing still had plenty of entertainment.

I was fortunate enough to meet the team at an event hosted by the Pakistani High Commision, and based off that, I have only positive things to say. However at the time i was curious to see if anything changed during match day, and sadly nothing did.

After the match, I couldn't see a single Pakistani player stick around to sign autographs for the kids, bar Shadab who did a few. They all marched off straight away, and it wasn't like it was a hostile enviroment.

Compare this to the Australian players, where Smith, Warner and Cummings all took their time to greet the fans.

Cummings in particular is a champ, he went over to where the bulk of the Pakistan fans were located and took pictures, and signatures with every single one who wanted it. I suspect he must have been there for close to 20-30 min after the match.

At this time, no pakistani player was in sight. It is very dissapointing, i dont know if they had instructions to come off, but if they did, the managment is wrong. The impression once can easily get is that they love the glitzy events hosted by Embassies and VIPs but not to mingle with ordinary people.

This match was like a home game for Pakistan. The attendence was around 9,000, and i wouldnt be suprised if close to 6,000 of that were Pakistani fans.

Many were here for their first game, coming in from regional towns.

I know this post, wont mean anything, but its something I have wanted to say after years watching the team in various countries.

Their are some exceptions overall though, neither were here, and i dont like them as players, but I have always found Malik, Kamran and Asad Shafiq willing to give time to the fans, if only more could follow their example, or better yet follow Cummings.

The team that looses usually don't stay, bar one or two players. New Zealand does the same, if they lose they don't sign apart from 1 or 2 players.

 

[Green Patriot]

In the last match when the players were returning after the game back to the dressing room there was a video circulating of a fan who was insulting each of the players as they went by taking their names aloud except for Babar who he appreciated.

Now my point isn't whether the fan was right or not but perhaps the players are afraid of such negative comments especially after their rubbish performances and also owing to the fact that in the past there have been incidents where some fans have crossed the line when players have stopped for pictures at ordinary venues etc (for eg the incident with Sarfaraz during WC)

Now we dont know who is actually arrogant/uninterested and who is just afraid of backlash/been ordered by the PCB to stay away.

 

[TalhaSyed]

I get what you are saying - and as fans it is frustrating - but I think it's a number of factors

1. The losing team normally doesn't stick around

2. After fixing issues in past years the management has severely clamped down on the players mingling with any fans or people who they don't know/approve when on tour

3. When you have jaahil idiots like this guy in the crowd - why would you want to stick around:

https://streamable.com/fnve6

Even though you would like to think majority of the fans have a bit more sense - we unfortunately have a vocal minority who make things like players meeting fans difficult for everyone

 

[Hawkeye]

Good.

No point in sticking around after a loss. Besides, they're under strict rules from the team manager so don't want to risk anything.

They also receive a lot of abuse after a loss. I wouldn't expect them to stick around.

Other teams also don't stick around after a loss, I think.

 

[Danyaalr01]

I get what you are saying - and as fans it is frustrating - but I think it's a number of factors

1. The losing team normally doesn't stick around

2. After fixing issues in past years the management has severely clamped down on the players mingling with any fans or people who they don't know/approve when on tour

3. When you have jaahil idiots like this guy in the crowd - why would you want to stick around:

https://streamable.com/fnve6

Even though you would like to think majority of the fans have a bit more sense - we unfortunately have a vocal minority who make things like players meeting fans difficult for everyone

What an idiot. Can't take him seriously, he called Babar a bowler and said Wahab is talking on the phone.

There seems to be a lot of these types of fans in England and Australia for some reason. I have never seen anyone abusing Pakistani players in New Zealand.

 

[JibranAnsari]

the general lack of manners amongst pakistan fans might be the reason

 

[babajee]

I called out Imad at a T20 blast game and he said he would come back to talk at the end of the match.

Guess what

 

[Mueez]

I get what you are saying - and as fans it is frustrating - but I think it's a number of factors

1. The losing team normally doesn't stick around

2. After fixing issues in past years the management has severely clamped down on the players mingling with any fans or people who they don't know/approve when on tour

3. When you have jaahil idiots like this guy in the crowd - why would you want to stick around:

https://streamable.com/fnve6

Even though you would like to think majority of the fans have a bit more sense - we unfortunately have a vocal minority who make things like players meeting fans difficult for everyone

Is this guy even a fan?

Disgusting behavior.

 

[Rana]

They act like superstars when they are abroad.

I remember there was a time when Shoaib Akhtar wouldn’t bat an eyelid when fans were calling out to him, but generally he was very interested in meeting the women. Disgrace!

 

[GreenKhan]

I have met the Pakistani players several times over the last few years . When they toured England in 2016 I took pictures with a lot of them at Worcester at the warm up and also did the same in 2018, 2019 at Northampton. In fact In 2019 I or my two friends took pics with all the squad between us.

In warm up matches like the ones I attended the crowd is small as are the grounds and the access is excellent . Most of them are friendly with the odd few with “aakar”.
I found fakhar , Babar , Shadab , Shaheen , to name a few always accomdating as much as possible .

Compared that to international matches in England that they play it’s a lot more difficult but that’s maybe due to the size of the crowd etc .

My advice attend the warm up games , for pics , autographs your likely to have more luck .

 

[MenInG]

[utube]evZEmWfKf9A[/utube]

 

[fasihulhaq94]

with toxic fans, nobody is going to waste their time on interaction.

and 99 % of pak fans turn toxic if the team loses.

 

[Saj]

What they should do is have 2 players allocated to this, whether they win or lose.

 

[Danyaalr01]

The players come when they win. In 2011 Shehzad gave me his playing shirt and Umar Akmal gave me his playing pants. In 2018 Hasan Ali gave me his cap. Perhaps I’m responsible for their downfalls.

 

[Boiz Played Well]

The players come when they win. In 2011 Shehzad gave me his playing shirt and Umar Akmal gave me his playing pants. In 2018 Hasan Ali gave me his cap. Perhaps I’m responsible for their downfalls.

LOL @ Akmal's pants. Did that just happen randomly or was he handing out his playing merch?

 

[Danyaalr01]

LOL @ Akmal's pants. Did that just happen randomly or was he handing out his playing merch?

they were handing their kits out.