Melbourne: For those players who are unable to handle criticisms, their anger comes out in different ways. Some don’t react, while others react strongly — just like Pakistan opener Ahmad Shehzad did after their loss to India.
The Pakistan team have been reeling under criticism after their opening loss to their arch-rivals. Many blog sites have been writing negatively about the players and some of these comments have been forwarded to them by friends and families.
And Shehzad fumed at Rashid Shakoor, the BBC Urdu journalist, in Christchurch, accusing him of regularly tweeting against him.
Shakoor recalled the incident to Gulf News. “I was shocked at the way Shehzad behaved with me — he accused me of bias when I had done nothing. He went on arguing with me,” he said.
“After accusing and shouting at me, he went off. So then I tried to find out the cause of his anger and frustration and realised that it was aimed at Sajid Sadiq of Pakpassion.net.”
Some journalists decided to complain about Shehzad’s behaviour to the team management and reports quickly circulated in Pakistan saying the batsman would be sent home for his behaviour. It was also reported that Shehzad had argued with the team’s fielding coach, Grant Luden.
“Soon Shehzad realised he had shouted at the wrong journalist and came back to apologise. But the report claiming that he is being asked to leave the World Cup is all wrong,” added Shakoor.
What shocked the media was how Shehzad failed to recognise Shakoor, who has reported on most of his matches and has been a regular for Pakistan’s matches in the UAE.
“Only a good victory in the next match can lessen the pressure on the players and all the allegations against them. Many false reports are floating around now, including the one on Shehzad and others abusing their fielding coach Luden,” said Abdul Majid Bhatti, sports editor of Pakistan’s Jang newspaper.
Meanwhile, skipper Misbah-ul-Haq on Friday told his players not to be affected by negative media coverage.
“It doesn’t matter what news comes in the media, it’s none of our business. Whatever is happening outside — out in the media — we just need to concentrate here on our own game and the match that is next,” he said.
“I think it’s important that you should know what you are doing right and what you are not doing right — nothing else should matter.”
