The advent of social media has brought our favourite cricketers closer to us. Sadly, for the cricketers, a few fans exploit this opportunity to make a hash of affairs by spewing unwanted vitriol upon the cricketers.
In one such incident, a Pakistani fan targeted Azhar Ali in an unnecessary post, tweeting, “When you’re planning for retirement… Now you’re going burden on Pakistani team just because of your poor performance against Zimbabwe and windies… The both opponents were weak in bowling… What will be your condition against Indian bowlers,eng, AUS and nz ones?”
Azhar was not willing to be schooled on his batting and resorted to a deafening reply as he quoted, “Brother you need to do your homework a little bit better…”
Azhar Ali’s recent performances
Azhar Ali has played a couple of impeccable knocks against Zimbabwe and has been a rock-solid support for Pakistan in drastic conditions. Former Pakistani captain, Azhar has kept himself confined to the longest format of the game for the time being but it is needless to say that he is an important option in the ranks of Pakistan.
Sadly for him, his exploits against West Indies weren’t particularly heroic that led to this sudden-talked about post.
It is not the first time that cricketers have been trolled online. Faf Du Plessis spoke up a few days back how his social media was filled with death threats back in 2011 while Virat Kohli was being silenced by a nondescript reporter who believed he knew batting better than the Indian captain.
There is a blurrying of lines between criticism and trolling in the recent times which can lead to contrasting outcomes in the offing to arrive.