Azam Khan, the Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter, has spoken out against the toxic behaviour of online followers surrounding Babar Azam, the former Pakistan captain. Khan’s comments came during a podcast discussion where he addressed the broader issue of abusive messaging directed at cricket analysts and commentators. The focus of his remarks was not on Babar’s cricketing ability but specifically on the conduct of his supporters across social media platforms.
Khan made his position clear, emphasising that his grievance lay entirely with fan behaviour rather than with Babar himself. He has experienced online abuse firsthand during his own career, giving him direct insight into the challenges faced by public figures in Pakistan cricket. The wicketkeeper-batter stressed that constructive criticism should be welcomed, but the current environment surrounding Babar’s followers had crossed into unacceptable territory.
“Obviously, nothing wrong with Babar and his game, but his fan base is very toxic,” Azam Khan said on the Backward Point Podcast.
“I mean, if you see those things, you’d be like, ‘Bro, why would he even say that?’” the 28-year-old added.
His comment reflected frustration with how supporters respond to even mild or constructive observations about the former captain’s performances.
The podcast host acknowledged the problem, noting that analysts receive abusive messages simply for offering measured feedback on players’ form or technique.
Why did Azam Khan criticise Babar Azam’s followers?
On virtue of being the poster boy of Pakistan cricket, Babar has been under close watch for years. Every innings he plays draws a loud reaction, and the volume of that reaction often crosses the boundaries of constructive criticism. Azam, however, was careful about where he pointed the finger. He did not say a word against Babar’s cricket, and he made it clear that his complaint was only about the behaviour of online followers.
Babar’s recent form has drawn scrutiny from the cricket community. Across the ODI tri-series featuring Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka, he accumulated 118 runs in 5 matches at an average of 23.60 with a strike rate of 74.21, failing to register a half-century.
Khan’s intervention highlighted a persistent challenge in modern cricket culture, where online platforms amplify both support and criticism. The distinction he drew between questioning a player’s form and attacking his supporters underscored the need for respectful discourse in fan communities. His willingness to address the issue publicly reflected broader concerns within Pakistan cricket about maintaining standards of conduct in digital spaces. Khan played nine T20 Internationals under Babar Azam, including featuring in the 2024 T20 World Cup squad.
