Imam defends Azam Khan amid social media trolling

Following Pakistan's loss to the US in the T20 World Cup and ongoing criticism from netizens, Imam Ul Haq expressed that a cricketer's performance can be adversely affected by social media trolling.

His comments came in the wake of wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan facing heavy criticism online due to his recent poor performances. Imam highlighted that in today's era, a player cannot survive without good performance for long due to the instant backlash from social media users.

Imam's remarks addressed the “misperception” among cricket fans that Pakistan was showing favoritism in player selection. He argued that in the social media age, it is impossible to sustain a player without consistent performance.

After the US-Pakistan match, fans voiced their disappointment over Pakistan's performance and team selection, particularly targeting Azam Khan. Speaking to Geo News, fans expressed frustration, especially over Azam's inclusion in the team. One spectator stated, "Azam Khan has no place in the team but they are still including him. He doesn't know fielding and he got out on the first ball."

In response to the criticism, Azam Khan either deleted or archived all his posts on Instagram, leading to speculations that this was due to the backlash over his fitness and selection. Despite facing criticism for his physical fitness, Azam has demonstrated his capabilities in T20 leagues in Pakistan and abroad.

Azam has not provided any reasons for his Instagram posts' sudden disappearance. He has faced severe criticism over his fitness, particularly after poor performances in the recent T20Is against England, where Pakistan lost the four-match series 2-0, with two matches washed out.

During the tour, Fakhar Zaman defended Azam, stating that his selection was based on his performance in the CPL, as endorsed by skipper Babar Azam and coach Gary Kirsten. Despite making his international debut in July 2021, Azam has struggled to make an impact in T20Is, scoring only 88 runs in 13 innings for Pakistan.

Regarding the perception of grouping within the national team, Imam dismissed such claims, stating he had never observed any grouping during his seven-year tenure. He emphasized that if anyone had evidence of grouping, they should name those involved.

Imam also distinguished between the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), stating they are entirely separate entities. He insisted that PSL teams have no connection with the PCB.

Commenting on Pakistan's defeat to the US, Imam stressed the collective responsibility to support the team, noting that it is not the end of the world and that Pakistan still has a crucial match against India.

Batsman Ahmed Shehzad attributed Pakistan's loss to the US to the country's weakened domestic cricket structure. He argued that without a strong foundation, such results are inevitable and urged the management to focus on improving the team's performance, reminding that Pakistan has faced defeats from weaker teams in the past as well.