Sunday’s World Cup match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan ended in a thumping 89-run victory for the Men in Blue. Sure enough, cricket fans from across the border were disappointed by their team’s defeat but they handled it with good humour and hilariously trolled them on Twitter. However, a few slammed the players for eating “burgers and pizzas” the night before the clash and their low fitness levels.
Some netizens claimed that they saw Shoaib Malik, Sania Mirza, Wahab Riaz and Imam-ul Haq at a restaurant in Manchester 7 hours before the match.
https://twitter.com/AliJaved24/status/1140430830680072194
The videos quickly went viral and fans were outraged.
Pakistan players were hitting Archie’s and shisha up yesterday, what more can you expect of them today 😂
— ً (@aisha__c) June 16, 2019
As a result, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had to step in and issue a clarification. India Today quoted an official spokesperson saying,
“The videos and photographs that went viral [on social media] are from two days before the match. The day before the match against India, all the players were in their hotel rooms by curfew time.”
Shoaib Malik took to Twitter to reiterate the fact that the viral videos were from June 13.
When will Pak media be accountable for their credibility by our courts?!
Having served my country for +20 years in Intl Cricket, it’s sad that I have to clarify things related to my personal life. The videos are from 13th June and not 15th
Details : https://t.co/Uky8LbgPHJ
— Shoaib Malik 🇵🇰 (@realshoaibmalik) June 17, 2019
On behalf of all athletes I would like to request media and people to maintain respect levels in regards to our families, who should not be dragged into petty discussions at will. It’s not a nice thing to do
— Shoaib Malik 🇵🇰 (@realshoaibmalik) June 17, 2019
But that wasn’t the end of it because Sania Mirza came under the scanner for allegedly taking son Izhaan to the said restaurant and her parenting style was questioned.
Sania, I am actually so worried for the kid. You guys took him to a sheesha place isn't it Hazardious? Also as far as I know Archie's is all about junk food which isn't good for athletes/Boys. You must know well as you are mother and athlete yourself? https://t.co/RRhaDfggus
— VEENA MALIK (@iVeenaKhan) June 17, 2019
This is what the Tennis star had to say about the matter.
😂That’s the video you shot without asking us,disrespecting our privacy even though we had a child with us?& got told off for doing so,& u came up with this crap?FYI ‘outing’ was dinner & yes ppl are allowed to eat if they lose a match!Bunch of fools!Try better content nxt time😂 https://t.co/51gnkMWUYu
— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) June 15, 2019
Veena,I hav not taken my kid to a sheesha place. Not that it’s any of your or the rest of the world’s business cause I think I care bout my son a lot more than anyone else does 🙂 secondly I am not Pakistan cricket team’s dietician nor am I their mother or principal or teacher- https://t.co/R4lXSm794B
— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) June 17, 2019
To know when they sleep,wake up and eat ..
thank you for your concern though .. means a lot ✌🏽 https://t.co/R4lXSm794B— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) June 17, 2019
This tweet pointed out what was wrong with the entire situation perfectly.
Imagine that ur not doing so good at ur job n the whole office starts blaming ur wife, shares videos of u having dinner n starts judging ur parenting skills too? U would freak n be like wtf!? Well thats what ur all doing to @realshoaibmalik n @MirzaSania Dont b stupid, its a game
— Ali Gul Pir (@Aligulpir) June 18, 2019
This isn’t the first time trolls are getting personal. Earlier, R. Ashwin’s wife and daughters were attacked after the Mankad controversy.