Wasim Akram addressed the excessive booing of Hardik Pandya by fans, urging for restraint and emphasizing the behavior’s counterproductive nature.
Wasim Akram, the legendary Pakistan fast bowler, has appealed to cricket fans to halt their constant booing of Hardik Pandya in stadiums. He acknowledged that while criticism is valid, the excessive booing has become uncontrollable this season.
Pandya’s controversial switch from the Gujarat Titans to the Mumbai Indians, along with rumors of a captaincy clause, stirred discontent among fans. Mumbai Indians’ decision to appoint Pandya as captain, displacing Rohit Sharma, further aggravated supporters.
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Akram, speaking on Sportskeeda Cricket’s Match Ki Baat show, stressed the importance of fan composure and criticized the relentless booing, emphasizing that while it’s acceptable to voice concerns, continuous negativity serves no purpose. He urged fans to support Pandya, as he is an integral part of the Mumbai Indians and can contribute to their success.
“This is the problem in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. We never forget. We tell our kids that when Pandya’s kid is born, you have to remind him why he became captain 20 years ago. We don’t move on. I think fans need to be a little calm. At the end of the day, he is your player. He plays for Mumbai Indians, and he is the one who can make you win. There is no point booing your own player. You can criticize a little bit, but move on,” Akram said.
“In franchise cricket, such things happen. Look at how CSK took the captaincy decision for the long run, and maybe, even they (MI) had the same idea. This was not a personal decision, but in my view, Rohit Sharma should have continued as captain for one more year. Perhaps, next year, Hardik Pandya could have been the captain,” he added.
Mumbai Indians’ upcoming match is scheduled for Saturday, April 27th, against the Delhi Capitals.
Last Updated on April 24, 2024
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