Former fast bowler and Karachi Kings mentor Wasim Akram seemingly shouting down skipper Babar Azam during a PSL match has drawn sharp reactions from the Pakistan cricket fans with many of them questioning the former captain, calling him rude. Yet again, it’s the Babar army that is lashing out at Akram on social media. Also opposing Akram’s stance were the likes of Javed Miandad.
Wasim Akram became angry with Babar Azam ?#PSL7 #KarachiKings pic.twitter.com/LGzI5lIyi3
— Usman Butt (@realusmanbutt1) February 16, 2022
Wasim Akram, taken aback by the criticism, had to issue a clarification but not before the Pakistani media and experts had devoted plenty of airtime.
Hello ! Surprised to see reactions on my talking to Babar at the boundary last night. What I was saying was ‘why our bowlers are not bowling yorkers or slower ones offside off’.nothing else . Babar is a wonderful boy and has tried his best. And what he wants for dinner ? 1/2
— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) February 17, 2022
GeoNews anchors thought that Babar should not have been dealt with in such a way where it seemed he was being scolded. The channel blamed the team management for Karachi Kings’ performance throughout the season while recounting Babar’s achievements in international cricket.
Pakistani legend Javed Miandad also appeared to have not agreed with Akram’s approach towards Babar and the loss against Multan Sultan. In a post-match analysis on BOL News, Miandad said, “they (players) are not kids. Winning and losing is part of the game and one should go easy on such results. You can try your best, you can’t do anything else.”
BBN Sports, that has over 2.5 lakh subscribers, said fans are showing their anger against Wasim Akram by putting up WhatsApp statuses and writing on social media. Fans, according to the YouTube Channel, are saying that it was Akram who did not select a good team, not giving Babar the players he wanted.
A Samaa TV anchor said that Wasim Akram couldn’t control his anger after Karachi Kings’ eighth loss in the PSL. But the co-anchor was quick to add that there was no need for Babar fans to have gone all guns blazing against Wasim Akram. She pointed at the growing culture of Babar fans reacting sharply against any criticism of the star batsman. The channel called it an unwanted controversy.
Babar fans have called Akram’s behaviour ‘unacceptable’. They felt it was the bowlers who were to blame for the match outcome and not Babar himself.
This is just not acceptable…
Why is he blaming him like that ?, if bowlers are not bowling the right lengths…
Wasim Akram shouldn't behave badly with Babar Azam….
Hurts ??#KKvsMS #BabarAzam pic.twitter.com/eGpahdFnos
— Saad (@SaadDogar77) February 16, 2022
Another Twitter user by the name ‘Jawad Imran’ wrote, “Sorry legend (Wasim Akram) But this is not a way to treat with a champion (Babar Azam)”.
Calling their ‘all format captain’ a champion, ‘Arshad Khan Tanoli’ said it was disappointing and reminded Akram that winning and losing is a part of the game.
Really disappointed to see All Format Captain of Pakistan @babarazam258 is being treated like this by Wasim Akram. He is our hero and world’s best player, win and lose is part of game but you cannot scold him like this!#KKvMS #BabarAzam pic.twitter.com/IUZppN025G
— Arshad Khan Tanoli (@Arshadkhan_ofcl) February 16, 2022
“After loosing 8 consecutive games, a normal man can be aggressive but, Wasim Akram is a experienced athlete, he did very unprofessional act,” wrote another user.
After loosing 8 consecutive games, a normal man can be aggressive but, Wasim Akram is a experienced athlete, he did very unprofessional act. Babar Azam did not selected the team, and nor he was the only man who gave over to Chris Jordan.#MsVsKk #PSL7 pic.twitter.com/tthUPMrVZ2
— Jay HanGer Channa?? (@realjayhanger) February 16, 2022
A fan also invoked Imran Khan in support of Babar Azam.
Babar ko kuch nahi bolne ka Wasim Bhai ? pic.twitter.com/60JX7PdXrX
— Humna. (@Humnayyy) February 17, 2022
But there were also those who came in support of Akram, including former batsman Salman Butt who said the Karachi Kings mentor couldn’t have been sitting idly and smiling because the team was in a good position before Chris Jordan’s 19th over.