CWC 2019: Imam and Babar criticize media for treatment meted out after loss to India

Pakistan lost to India in the World Cups for the 7th straight time.

Pakistan received backlash from media after India defeat | Getty Images

Pakistan batsmen Imam-Ul-Haq and Babar Azam lamented how captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and the team were targeted on the social media after their loss to their arch-rivals India in their World Cup 2019 match.

The Men in Green received a fierce outrage from the media to former players after they were beaten by India, both on and off the field, by 89-runs via DLS method in a group match at World Cup 2019. Following the defeat, the media brought the players' personal lives into the public spectrum, trolling them brutally on social media.

It was all started with a video of a group of players having an outing with their families in an alleged sheesha bar, which was reportedly had taken place in the late hours of the night before the India game.

While the players were also blamed for having an appetite for fast food - burgers and pizzas, which later turned into a famous meme on the social media that raised questioned on their fitness standards by former players, captain Sarfraz was also heavily trolled on the social media for yawning behind the stumps during the Indian innings after a rain interval.

Babar told the media at the PCB headquarters, “I don't use the social media during the tours because it is only going to upset me. We also have personal lives and families. If you people are going to keep an eye on where we are going, what are we doing, or how we are sleeping, it is going to create difficulties for us and hamper us from performing.”

He continued, “We all were very emotional after the defeat and wanted to win that game because nobody wants to lose to India. You can criticize us all you want on our cricket, but it shouldn't have to do anything with our personal life, because it is hurtful.”

Babar concluded, “This [talks about factionalism] started after the India match. Everyone blamed us and such things emerged in the media. But, where did those reports go when we started to win? If a group of players is enjoying a meal together, it doesn't mean that there is a split within the team. We also went out for food during our four-match win streak. But, nobody brought up the factionalism then.”

Meanwhile, Imam struggled throughout the World Cup 2019 in England and he was once again labeled a product of nepotism, given that he is the nephew of Inzamam ul Haq, the national chief selector, also disappointed with the critics for targeting them regarding their off-field activity during the ICC event.

The left-handed opener continued, “I don't use the social media during the tours because it is only going to upset me. We also have personal lives and families. If you people are going to keep an eye on where we are going, what are we doing, or how we are sleeping, it is going to create difficulties for us and hamper us from performing.”

Imam signed off by saying, “We all were very emotional after the defeat and wanted to win that game because nobody wants to lose to India. You can criticize us all you want on our cricket, but it shouldn't have to do anything with our personal life, because it is hurtful.”

(With Cricbuzz Inputs)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 10 Jul, 2019

    Share Via