Pakistan lost against their arch-rivals India in the ICC World Cup 2019 match at Old Trafford in Manchester on June 16. Pakistan lost for the 7th consecutive time against India in the World cup history.
India posted a big total of 336 runs for 5 wickets in their 50 overs. Pakistan lost by 89 runs after the DLS method in a rain-affected match.
Pakistani fans were totally dejected by the performance of their team. Several fans even targeted Indian Tennis star Sania Mirza after photos of her having a late dinner husband Shoaib Malik and a few other Pakistani cricketers at a shisha café went viral after the match.
Shoaib Malik of the #pakistancricketteam at midnight, hours before the most crucial match of the #CricketWorldCup2019 In Curry Mile In a Shisha cafe. Add the burgers and deserts, no wonder they performed dismally at Old Trafford. They should be ashamed. Every single one of them. pic.twitter.com/Dr8gHWdF9M
— Mohammed Shafiq (@mshafiquk) June 16, 2019
Several media persons from Pakistan had claimed that the photos were from the night before the match, leading to outrage, but it was later found that the photos were from two days before the match.
However, that too did not stop the targeted attacks at Sania, who eventually said she had decided to take a break from Twitter.
Now, former India opener Virender Sehwag has shut down social media trolls directed at Sania and Shoaib, saying people that should not connect any player’s personal and professional life while citing the example of Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma.
“I don’t think you can connect personal life to their professional careers. I had said this before as well when Virat Kohli got out and Anushka Sharma was there to watch the match. I said you cannot comment on anyone’s family.. no matter how emotional you are about your team and your players but you cannot go into their personal life.”
“No one has the right (to do that). Sania Mirza and Malik where they go, what they eat and where they go.. no one can interfere there. It is his (Malik’s) life… he has to prepare himself for an India-Pakistan match and it is his wish how he wants to prepare. No one should raise questions on that. There are guys who cannot sleep till 6 am.. there are others who go out till 6 am. I don’t see the problem in that,” Sehwag said.
Pakistan will now look for improved performance when they face South Africa on June 23. It is a must-win clash for Safaraz Ahmed and Co. as a loss to the Proteas would almost knock them out of the tournament.
