Pakistan ended their disappointing Commonwealth Games cricket campaign with a 44-run loss against Australia. The Women in Green failed to win a single game and hence fans started brutally trolling and even abusing players. Unhappy with the reactions toward the women's team, former captain Javeria Khan lashed out at the fans on social media and expressed her displeasure.
She posted a long message on Twitter and captioned it, "To whom it may concern!" In the statement, Khan wrote that these comments at the women's team were 'outrageous and unwarranted' and asked fans should provide 'constructive criticism' instead of hurling abuses.
"Those who do not follow Women's Cricket in Pakistan, consider it their inalienable right to slam the players if they underperform. Questioning selection of the team, accuracy of shots, playing techniques or approaches, and strategies applied during the game is welcome."
"Constructive criticism is always healthy, whether relative to women's or men's crickets. But resorting to vile comments, and attacking players' private lives is both outrageous and unwarranted. One should first step and walk in another person's shoes before coming up with sweeping judgments or labelling someone as a failure."
PS: Teams, athletes, and systems do not grow overnight. This is an evolutionary process that takes time. Women's team needs your support and constructive criticism".
Pakistan started off their CWG campaign against Barbados where they lost by 15 runs. Then in the second game of the event, the Women in Green had another disappointing show against arch-rivals India where they suffered an eight-wicket defeat. Then in the final game, the reigning Women’s World Cup champion Australia took down Pakistan in a 44-run defeat.
Pakistan started the game in incredible fashion as they reduced the Aussies to the score of 19-2 in five overs. But here, the World Champions proved their metal as Tahlia McGrath and Beth Mooney combined to score 148 as they posted a target of 160 in 20 overs. Australia continued their momentum in the second innings by taking quick wickets.
Pakistan was struggling at 47 for four in the ninth over. The Aussies continued dominating as they restricted the Women in Green to a score of 116 in 20 to book their spot in the semi-final against New Zealand.