Social media abuse is hurting cricketers’ confidence, says commentator

ISLAMABAD: A senior cricket commentator has warned that social media hostility is increasingly affecting players, officials and journalists, saying the volume and tone of online abuse can damage confidence and, in turn, hurt performances on the field.

Writing about the issue, he recounted a conversation with a cricketer who said the pressure of reading comments on platforms such as Twitter and Facebook had become unbearable.

Brother, what can I tell you? Whenever I look at Twitter and Facebook, I feel like I have achieved nothing in cricket,that I am the worst player in the world. People say such terrible things about me that my blood starts to boil. If I hand over my password to an agent, there’s always the fear of something going wrong like what happened with Naseem Shah. In such a situation, I’ve decided to stop using social media altogether. I just can’t handle it anymore,it’s affecting my performance.

He said this was not an isolated experience and added that several people connected with cricket had described similar problems. According to him, social media now has the ability to affect a person’s mood instantly, even through a single post from someone far removed from the game.

He wrote that while it is difficult in the current era to stay completely away from such platforms, restraint is necessary. He also said he had once kept his own distance from social media, but that changed when Najam Sethi became chairman and journalists began to be assessed by the size of their online following.

Recalling one example, he said a fellow journalist once reacted to a harsh comment on Twitter with severe abuse, but later deleted the post after being told that the anonymous user had achieved exactly what he wanted by provoking a public response.

The writer said players and cricket administrators also often respond emotionally to criticism. He added that he knew of several people who removed social media applications from their phones during the Pakistan Super League, although screenshots sent by friends meant they were still exposed to the comments.

He also described how he had ignored a personal attack by another journalist online, saying he preferred not to respond and instead left matters to God. In his view, some current cricketers are seeing their careers harmed because repeated negative remarks erode belief in their own ability, which ultimately also affects the Pakistan team.

Concerns over fake accounts and toxic commentary

The article said Kent County recently turned off comments across all of its social media accounts, with the team’s coach saying hostile remarks could affect players’ mental health. The writer presented that move as one of the few visible steps taken by a cricket organisation in response to the issue.

He also raised concern about the growing role of fake and misleading accounts. Since Twitter, now X, began allowing users to purchase blue ticks through a monthly subscription, he said, verification no longer reliably signals authenticity. He added that even fake accounts using the names of well-known personalities can now appear credible at first glance.

According to the writer, Twitter has become the most toxic platform in this regard. He alleged that many negative comments targeting Pakistan cricket come from India through fake identities, and also claimed that some players’ agents use anonymous accounts to promote their own clients while undermining others.

He said the atmosphere had become so corrosive that regular consultation with psychologists over social media pressure may become common among cricketers, if it has not already started.

Call for responsible criticism

The commentator argued that online popularity cannot replace actual performance. In his view, players become stars through runs, wickets and results rather than through follower counts, and poor performances cannot be shielded by a large social media presence.

He urged the Pakistan Cricket Board to address the matter, saying players’ mental health should be treated seriously. He also appealed to supporters to remain respectful even when criticising players and not to involve their families.

He wrote that many self-styled experts on social media comment on cricket without understanding even the basics of the game, describing them as Bradmans of social media. He added that the problem is not limited to ordinary users, saying some former cricketers have also become part of the trend, whether due to jealousy, personal grievances, disappointment over franchise roles, or the pursuit of YouTube views.

He said criticism should be constructive, focused on identifying mistakes and suggesting remedies, and argued that there should be a clear distinction between former cricketers and online trolls. He concluded that the problem is expanding quickly and that, for now, Kent County appears to be the only side to have taken a visible step, though others may eventually feel compelled to do the same.