Undue criticism of Pakistan team from fans and ex-cricketers : Observation of an Indian fan

[mikeypbadana86]

Watching the post debacle of Pakistans loss in Asia cup final. Ex-cricketers(shoiab akthar, Aqib javed ,Inzi .. etc) and fans alike lambasting the pakistan team and asking for sweeping changes. I really feel sorry for what the players are going through.

The team broke the world cup streak of India, last year in 2021 t20 world cup and played the semi final's. Lost the match due to toss ?

Knocked out India again in Asia cup , barring for few overs of momentum loss in first innings did okayish in the final.

The overt emotions of cricket fans will never do any good to the morale of team or players, specially in the age of social media. The players go through much more than the previous generation of players. Rooting for own team/country is fine but should not be counter productive with constant criticism and negativity.

1996 World cup semi final india were 100/1 in 23 overs and sailing smooth chasing 250 against SL. couple of wickets and the indian batsment buckled under crowd preassure, the score card read 120/8. The entire stadium was burnt. Such was the psyche of subcontient(India/Pak) fans. Years later house of cricketers were attacked post 2007 early exit of India.

I used to be a passionate fan, still a passionate fan but got matured with age and started seeing the cricketing side of the game with odds/happenstance/toss/opposition strength all playing a part in the outcome of a game.

Hopefully the pakistan team gets more love and support and positivity

 

[Usman Chadda]

These ex-players need to be shown their auqaat. They achieved nothing besides beating up on hapless opposition in their team, got owned every time they faced the top two teams of their time, Australia and South Africa.

Their only claim to fame is dominating India, when they were a laughable cricket team. None of these ‘superstars’ were good enough to end the streak against India either.

When I see someone like Aqib or Aamer Sohail talk down these young kids, can’t help but laugh. All they want is their two minutes of fame, as none of these people provide valid solutions to our current dilemma which is lack of talent in major areas.

 

[The lone Ranger]

I think the criticism is well deserved. No one is criticizing them needlessly for example the bowlers rarely get critized because they have been doing very well lately.

It's just that some fans don't like the team losing for simple mistakes which can be rectified easily but they commit the same mistakes time and again like the captain not using his main bowlers to clean up the lower order quickly but worrying about the death overs instead and while batting, the openers keep putting the middle order under pressure by wasting the powerplays and some playing for their personal glories without caring about the team winning etc..

So in saying they need to rectify some of these mistakes is not undue criticism. Just because they have beaten India twice recently, doesn't mean that they shouldn't be critized.

 

[MenInG]

Watching the post debacle of Pakistans loss in Asia cup final. Ex-cricketers(shoiab akthar, Aqib javed ,Inzi .. etc) and fans alike lambasting the pakistan team and asking for sweeping changes. I really feel sorry for what the players are going through.

The team broke the world cup streak of India, last year in 2021 t20 world cup and played the semi final's. Lost the match due to toss ?

Knocked out India again in Asia cup , barring for few overs of momentum loss in first innings did okayish in the final.

The overt emotions of cricket fans will never do any good to the morale of team or players, specially in the age of social media. The players go through much more than the previous generation of players. Rooting for own team/country is fine but should not be counter productive with constant criticism and negativity.

1996 World cup semi final india were 100/1 in 23 overs and sailing smooth chasing 250 against SL. couple of wickets and the indian batsment buckled under crowd preassure, the score card read 120/8. The entire stadium was burnt. Such was the psyche of subcontient(India/Pak) fans. Years later house of cricketers were attacked post 2007 early exit of India.

I used to be a passionate fan, still a passionate fan but got matured with age and started seeing the cricketing side of the game with odds/happenstance/toss/opposition strength all playing a part in the outcome of a game.

Hopefully the pakistan team gets more love and support and positivity

Success breeds success, and it also breeds ardent fans!

This is the reality.

Pakistan needs to win and win big tournaments/series for fans to regain their fervour.

 

[Slim]

I am finding the criticism over the top as well. Shows the fickle nature of majority of fans tbh. Absolutely despicable.

 

[Rana]

I am finding the criticism over the top as well. Shows the fickle nature of majority of fans tbh. Absolutely despicable.

Kyun thak raa eh?

Enjoy Kar! You have your favourite most desired squad. Enjoy the next 18 games under Babar’s captaincy

 

[PakLFC]

There is no middle ground with ex Pak players and fans. Either we are the worst or best team ever when in reality we are neither. We were hardly the best side ever even when these big mouths were playing. Even then we always had fitness and disciplinary issues.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

I would take criticism from Pakistani fans and ex-cricketers anyday over fake praises, overhyping and suger coating done by Indian fans and ex-cricketers. At least Pakistani fans, ex-cricketers etc want their team to improve and don't have this 'sab changa si' or 'we are the greatest team in the world' attitude.

Anyone who has watched and followed Pakistani cricket for more than a decade knows clearly that this is a pretty weak team. Pakistan used to have so many bowling options but look at now. Look at their middle order. Guys like Khushdil, Iftikhar and Asif Ali aren't going to win matches against top teams. The only good thing about this Pak team is they have found good fast bowlers who actually bowl fast in international cricket. They haven't found any replacement for Hafeez and Malik.

IMHO I don't think Pakistan will be in the semi finals let alone in the final of WC. Only thing that can take them to finals is their exceptional fast bowling.

 

[asfandyar]

We are an idealistic nation, and I have personally suffered immensely in the pursuit of perfectionism. I guess we still have PTSD from the days when Asad Shafiq was allowed to play 50 ODI games despite averaging 25, or when Fawad Alam was dropped after hitting 168 on debut at a position he had never played at in his FC career where he averaged 55+.

 

[asfandyar]

I would take criticism from Pakistani fans and ex-cricketers anyday over fake praises, overhyping and suger coating done by Indian fans and ex-cricketers. At least Pakistani fans, ex-cricketers etc want their team to improve and don't have this 'sab changa si' or 'we are the greatest team in the world' attitude.

Anyone who has watched and followed Pakistani cricket for more than a decade knows clearly that this is a pretty weak team. Pakistan used to have so many bowling options but look at now. Look at their middle order. Guys like Khushdil, Iftikhar and Asif Ali aren't going to win matches against top teams. The only good thing about this Pak team is they have found good fast bowlers who actually bowl fast in international cricket. They haven't found any replacement for Hafeez and Malik.

IMHO I don't think Pakistan will be in the semi finals let alone in the final of WC. Only thing that can take them to finals is their exceptional fast bowling.

Or the miracles that keep Pakistan breathing despite severely debt-ridden economy, or the miracles that allow us to capture a pilot from a country whose defense budget alone is more than our entire budget, or the miracles that allow us to make an exceptional team, with a multi-billion dollar league behind it, our bunny.

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

I do think our media goes way way overboard. The standard of some of the sports journalism really is something. They don’t report or offer constructive scrutiny, but only criticise harshly to stay relevant.

That said, all the ex players make money off of misery and created controversies. Everything, everything has to be some level of minor scandal. It’s a version of misery trolling that adds nothing but hot air. The ‘in my day’ lot who raise problems but don’t provide any workable solutions.

The whole thing is like Arsenal Fan TV on speed, just so toxic.

It’s actually a miracle how our players mental health isn’t on the floor.

For eg, I’m not a Hassan Ali fan, but the absolute pelters he got after the WC were like he was some unrepentant criminal. And just because he’s a famous person, are we as fans allowed free reign to act like animals towards them? We wouldn’t speak this way with strangers on the street, but we’ll spew bile (media, ex players, fans) on these players as if it’s our god given right.

The same unfortunately Is now happening to Shadab, and I pray he comes out of it unscathed, because mentally is must be tough for him, all that hate.

I’m frequently frustrated by the Pakistan Cricket Team. But we as fans need to support. Scrutinise, yes, absolutely, because we are the most crucial stakeholder in cricket. But mainly we should support as fans , rather than constantly judge. The toxicity gets tiring man, which is why I avoid this forum when there are big defeats.

 

[sjahmed23]

Our ex-players are a reflection of our toxic media and society in general. Honestly shambolic. Nothing can grow or nurture in this environment and everyone that goes in comes out bitter. Wish that being toxic wasn't so common here.

 

[daytrader]

This is always the case with our fans, we want quick results. The media and ex players are to blame for going overboard with criticism. But what can you expect in a country where the primary form of entertainment is to discuss politics.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Pakistani ex-cricketers are arguably the most shameless in the world because unlike the fans they have actually played the game and know first-hand about the pressures that come with all this undue criticism from the media...especially when you are low on confidence and just suffered a demoralizing defeat. And yet they still decide to become part of the problem, rather than the solution because that's just how desperate some of them are for attention, money and relevance.

There is a fine line between constructive criticism and going on TV and launching personal attacks on our players that are devoid of any sort of insight or analysis.

If any of these ex-cricketers were actually serious about making a difference or helping our players get better, they would reach out to our players privately to offer them advice, rather than doing it on TV every week infront of millions. But that's not something most of them are interested in because like I said, they aren't done hogging the limelight. They still want to stay relevant even if its by slinging mud at our players.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Pakistan has sent a better team than India for the WT20.

 

[Saj]

Babar Azam today "Everyone has their own opinions but we don't worry about what people are saying. We don't let such things come inside the dressing room. Being ex-players they should understand the situation and there shouldn't be any personal attacks from them"

 

[todfod 11]

If you want to make a growing tree die,
Keep cursing it and it will eventually die instead of blossom.
Criticism is a part of a system but going over board is foolish.
People following these ex cricketers should know that these people make money when national team loose. When they are winning these guys have nothing to say. They attract views and attention when they curse.
You can easily check the YouTube views of these expert after pak beat India and Afganistan.
Every one knows pakistan is struggling for a good number 5 and 6 batsmen and it's not from now, it's since 2015. Yes 2015, pakistan never had a reliable number 5 or 6. But No one points fingers at domestic team to not build batsmen who can play at these numbers.
How many batsmen did Aqib Javed produced in his academy?

 

[todfod 11]

I myself follow Inzy and understands what he says because he has been such great batsmen.

If I listen to Aqib Javed, kamran Akmal, Salman butt , tanvir Ahmed then I will be the biggest fool. People who haven't achieved anything getting attention shows what's wrong with the society.

 

[Waleed93]

It's not even a secret anymore that these leeches who once played for Pakistan are hating on the current team for no reason.

It's not even about losing the Asia Cup Final, It's all about these clowns coming on TV or their YouTube channels, and moaning about how their besties should be selected over the players who got selected for the WT20I.

They are just waiting for the team to fail and it's so blatantly visible through their comments.

If you look at statements of the likes of Hafeez, Inzamam, Akhtar, Kamran, Moin, Aaqib, etc... all of them are crying about the exclusion of Malik and Sharjeel.

The only narrative they have been pushing since the announcement of the squad is the same "Babar-Rizwan don't bat quick enough" nonsense.

It makes me chuckle when I see the likes of Hafeez, Kamran or Moin having a go at Babar's strike rate, when he has already achieved more than these 3 combined in their careers.

This team broke the streak against India, knocked them out of the Asia Cup, played the semi-final of the previous WT20I, the final of the Asia Cup with a relatively inexperienced and young side, and these unemployed leeches are still complaining.

They couldn't save their behinds against India in any WC game during their careers. The biggest mouth of them all, Shoaib Akhtar's "daleri" was never to be found when Sachin showed him his aukaat in the 2003 WC and now he has the guts to run his mouth about others.

 

[asfandyar]

Pakistan has sent a better team than India for the WT20.

Nice try. India's team is obviously better, but T20 is the great equalizer where even Afghanistan stands a chance, so you never know.

 

[topspin]

I don't think it's right to look at it from the perspective of an Indian fan simply because you have lower standards for Pakistan cricket. I don't blame you for this mindset because your team is superior to Pakistan.

However, I do find it a bit rich for any Indian fan to state the criticism was unfair.

If we take a short trip down memory lane, Indian fans were beyond outraged after Yuvraj's knock in the 2014 WT20 final which lost India the game. Were you guys calm? No you ended up stoning his house and bashing him quite badly on social media.

 

[ayemgilani86]

Watching the post debacle of Pakistans loss in Asia cup final. Ex-cricketers(shoiab akthar, Aqib javed ,Inzi .. etc) and fans alike lambasting the pakistan team and asking for sweeping changes. I really feel sorry for what the players are going through.

The team broke the world cup streak of India, last year in 2021 t20 world cup and played the semi final's. Lost the match due to toss ?

Knocked out India again in Asia cup , barring for few overs of momentum loss in first innings did okayish in the final.

The overt emotions of cricket fans will never do any good to the morale of team or players, specially in the age of social media. The players go through much more than the previous generation of players. Rooting for own team/country is fine but should not be counter productive with constant criticism and negativity.

1996 World cup semi final india were 100/1 in 23 overs and sailing smooth chasing 250 against SL. couple of wickets and the indian batsment buckled under crowd preassure, the score card read 120/8. The entire stadium was burnt. Such was the psyche of subcontient(India/Pak) fans. Years later house of cricketers were attacked post 2007 early exit of India.

I used to be a passionate fan, still a passionate fan but got matured with age and started seeing the cricketing side of the game with odds/happenstance/toss/opposition strength all playing a part in the outcome of a game.

Hopefully the pakistan team gets more love and support and positivity

why are you naming Shoaib Akhtar and Aqib Javed ?, Shoaib Malik and Hafeez the current players are also the ones criticizing the team as well. The criticism to some extent is justified the country needs to know why is there still a culture of batting for your averages. Babar and the current regime have fostered this selfish culture that needs to change.