Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan has criticized certain supporters of former captain Babar Azam. He described some of Babar Azam’s fans as “toxic and uneducated” over abusive behaviour on social media.
Azam shared his concerns during an appearance on the Backward Point Cricket Podcast. He discussed how cricket supporters sometimes react aggressively to criticism of their favourite players.
He said disagreements about performances should not lead to personal attacks. According to Azam, some supporters cross boundaries when defending their preferred cricketers.
Azam Khan Recalls Abusive Message During Ireland Tour
During the podcast, Azam recalled an incident from Pakistan’s tour of Ireland. He was batting alongside Babar Azam, who was approaching his century.
Babar had scored around 75 runs at the time. Pakistan needed approximately 40 more runs to win the match.
Azam revealed that he received an offensive message through Instagram. The supporter targeted his family and made disturbing remarks.
The message suggested that Azam’s parents would face serious harm if he stopped Babar from completing his century.
Azam questioned why anyone would make such personal threats over a cricket match. He said supporters should not involve players’ families in sporting disagreements.
He also clarified that his comments were not aimed at Babar Azam. He expressed no concerns about Babar’s batting abilities.
Instead, his criticism focused on the behaviour of certain supporters. He said some members of Babar Azam’s fans community respond to criticism with hostility.
Azam Discusses Online Abuse in Pakistan Cricket
Azam also spoke about the wider issue of online harassment in Pakistan cricket. He said discussions about players often become personal rather than constructive.
Players regularly face criticism over their performances. However, Azam believes criticism should remain focused on cricket.
The wicketkeeper-batter has also experienced negative comments throughout his career. Much of the criticism has concerned his performances and physical appearance.
He said such comments no longer affect him as strongly as before. His experience has helped him develop a different attitude towards online criticism.
Babar Azam Faces Questions Over Recent Performances
Azam’s remarks come as Babar faces criticism over his recent batting performances. The former Pakistan captain struggled to produce major scores during the recent ODI tri-series.
The tournament featured Pakistan, England, and Sri Lanka. Babar scored 118 runs across five matches.
He averaged 23.60 and recorded a strike rate of 74.21. He did not score a half-century during the competition.
Despite his criticism of certain supporters, Azam has previously praised Babar’s consistency. He acknowledged the former captain’s performances between 2019 and 2021.
Both players also represented Pakistan at the 2024 T20 World Cup. The tournament took place in the United States and the Caribbean.
Azam played in Pakistan’s opening match against the United States. Pakistan lost that contest in a Super Over.
In other related news also read Azam Khan Achieves Fastest Fifty In ILT20
His recent comments highlight concerns about abusive behaviour in online cricket discussions. Azam’s message distinguishes criticism of a player’s performance from personal attacks against individuals and their families.
