The toxicity one encounters on social media can get unbearable at times. For public figures, it has always been a platform where some random followers can demean, vilify and abuse them without any consequences.
In one such case, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has been compared to the Pakistan terrorist Hafiz Saeed by one of the users on Twitter. The Twitterati accused the southpaw of “not hiding his ambitions to become the next Hafiz Sayeed.”
Irfan was dismayed by the comment, and he shared the screenshot with a caption, “This is the mentality of certain people. Where have we reached? #shame #disgusted.”
This is the mentality of certain ppl. Where have we reached ? #shame #disgusted pic.twitter.com/nlLh9vTwS6
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) July 2, 2020
The shambolic reply came to the post, which was not even remotely political in nature. It came in response to a story where the fast bowler debunked the popular narrative that Greg Chappell destroyed his career.
Pathan’s tweet stated, “It’s unfair to blame Greg Chappell for spoiling my career.”
It was Sachin Tendulkar’s idea to promote the all-rounder to No.3 as he sensed an innate ability in Irfan to hit big sixes and play out the new ball.
“I had said this after I had announced my retirement as well. Those who talk about Greg Chappell spoiling my career, by sending me as an all-rounder at No. 3 and all these things. Actually, it was Sachin paaji’s idea. He advised Rahul Dravid to send me at No. 3. He said ‘he (Irfan) has the power to hit sixes, can take on the new ball and can play the fast bowlers well too,” the 35-year old said in the report.
The bowling all-rounder featured in 29 Test, 120 ODI and 24 T20I for the Men in Blue. He also has a noble distinction of cloaking over 100 appearances in IPL.
Irfan actively uses Twitter to spread the uplifting message of religious harmony and unanimity between people belonging to different religions and race. This is not the first time he has faced such insolent remarks for his outspokenness and audacity to tweet his opinion without any filter. However, he remains undaunted and keeps sharing his views on different subjects.
