Pakistan pace legend Wasim Akram said one of the reasons he never accepted any permanent coaching assignment with the national team is because he can’t tolerate the online abuse that coaches have to endure due to the failure of the side.
“I can’t stand misbehaviour from anyone and I am not stupid. I see how people misbehave and insult coaches/seniors on the social media if the team is not doing well. I don’t think I have the patience for that,” he said.
Akram said while he can understand the passion of the cricket fans, he couldn’t understand the bad language used on social media. “I just think we need to ponder on the fact that whatever we say on social media reflects on what we are,” he added.
The former left-arm fast bowler said people need to understand that the coaches and support staff can only guide and motivate the players but at the end of the day, the players have to perform.
“Sometimes you do well, sometimes you lose. But tell me do we see this sort of extreme reaction or misbehaviour in other countries. Have you seen Ravi Shastri being treated this way on social media? It is pretty scary for me the way people behave on social media,” Akram said.
The former skipper, however, said being with the Karachi Kings franchise in the Pakistan Super League allowed him to work with most of the players. “So it is not as if I am totally cut off from the players,” he said.