Simon Doull, a well-known commentator in both the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and Indian Premier League (IPL), has recently spoken about the emotional turmoil he experienced in Pakistan.
This occurred following his on-air remarks about Babar Azam, the captain of Peshawar Zalmi. Doull, who is 53 years old, detailed his experience of being unable to even leave the hotel to eat due to fans who were waiting outside to express their anger. He expressed his gratitude for being able to leave the country.
Simon Doull had voiced his criticism of Babar Azam during the PSL 2023 match against Quetta Gladiators. Despite scoring 115 runs off 65 deliveries, the right-handed batsman took 14 deliveries to complete his century, slowing down his innings. Peshawar Zalmi ultimately lost the match by eight wickets with 10 balls remaining.
As quoted by Geo News, Simon Doull said the following about his days in Pakistan, “Living in Pakistan is like living in jail. I was not allowed to go out as Babar Azam fans were waiting for me. And I stayed without food for many days. Even I was mentally tortured, but by the grace of God, I somehow escaped.”
During the live broadcast, Simon Doull expressed his opinion, saying, “Instead of prioritizing the team’s interests, it seems that Babar Azam has been focusing on personal milestones lately. Even with so much firepower to follow, he was still searching for boundaries. While centuries are impressive and the statistics may look good, the team’s success should be the top priority.”
In addition to his remarks about Babar Azam, Simon Doull had also recently criticized Virat Kohli, the Royal Challengers Bangalore batter, for taking 10 balls to complete his half-century from 42 deliveries during a match against the Lucknow Super Giants.
Kohli ultimately scored 61 off 44 balls, but Bangalore lost the match by one wicket in a last-ball thriller. Doull expressed his opinion, stating, “It seems that Kohli is more focused on achieving his personal milestones. Taking 10 balls to score those eight runs is unacceptable. In today’s game, there is no place for such behavior.”