Why Pakistan fans troll Irfan Pathan? In the aftermath of Australia’s victory over India in the Cricket World Cup 2023 final in Ahmedabad, the cricket community witnessed an outpouring of messages from Pakistani fans on social media. Despite their intense rivalry with India, the fans extended words of encouragement to Team India for their remarkable unbeaten run leading up to the final. The appreciation wasn’t limited to their rivals, as they also lauded Australia for their outstanding character and performance throughout the tournament.
Many fans highlighting the words of Australian Captain Pat Cummins from his Pre-Match Press Conference when India looked the favourite to win the final
However, amid the messages of sportsmanship and acknowledgement, a peculiar trend emerged in the post-match discourse. Irfan Pathan, the former Indian all-rounder, found himself at the center of online taunts and trolling. It seems that after Indian defeat Pakistan fans troll Irfan Pathan.
Notably, this was a departure from the overall positive sentiment expressed by fans and former cricketers alike, sparking curiosity about the underlying reasons behind this targeted trolling of Irfan Pathan by some sections of the cricket community.
While Irfan Pathan has engaged in friendly banter with Pakistan cricket fans, including a few cricketers, on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) in the past, it was generally perceived as good-humored banter. One of his tweets, for instance, humorously inquired about Pakistan’s Sunday following a defeat. Ironically, India faced a similar fate, losing the World Cup final on a Sunday. However, this playful exchange has taken a more serious turn recently.
The underlying reason for the apparent upset among Pakistani cricket fans towards the former cricketer is rooted in political sentiments. Over the past years, tension has brewed between Pakistan and Afghanistan, leading to animosity. On the cricket field, Afghanistan considers Pakistan as its primary target, contributing to the discomfort felt by Pakistanis. The longstanding history of hosting Afghan refugees for over half a century adds to the frustration, especially since some Afghan cricketers still hold Pakistani passports.
In the ongoing World Cup, Afghanistan achieved a historic milestone by defeating Pakistan for the first time in a World Cup match, marking a significant day in Afghan cricketing history. The extravagant celebrations by the Afghan team, coupled with Irfan Pathan dancing and celebrating with them, intensified the hurt felt by Pakistani cricket fans. Many fans expressed their dissatisfaction with the celebrations and connected Irfan Pathan’s actions to both arch-rivals, India and Afghanistan.
T.e spoke to several Pakistan cricket fans, revealing that trolling Irfan Pathan serves as a means to express their sentiments towards Afghanistan, making it the primary reason behind the widespread trolling of Irfan Pathan by Pakistan cricket fans worldwide.
