KARACHI:
Considering that cricket is an extremely popular sport in South Asia, spectators take both victory and losses personally and respond emotionally. A good game is not only cherished but becomes a hot topic for days. Similarly, a loss or poor performance by a player is scrutinised on both television and social media. In the past, players that have failed to perform well have been targeted with hate, trolling, and threats for long periods. Spectators and cricket analytics have even gone ahead to build pressure on the board to drop the player altogether.
We need to realise that the loss may be disappointing for us, but it is much more disappointing for the players who have adopted the sport as their profession. They spend long periods away from their families, practising and playing in extreme weather. At times, many suffer from serious injuries but continue to play after recovering.
Negative behaviour and remarks from fans can affect their mental health and cause them to feel depressed and anxious, which can also affect their performance as well. Thus, we must support all our players whether they win or lose games. I would also request the relevant authorities to offer counselling and support to players so that they can withstand the pressure and negative comments.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2022.
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