Social media is a double-edged sword in the realm of sports. It may be a terrific forum for athletes to communicate with their fans, discuss their experiences, and demonstrate their skills.
On the other side, it can also be a breeding ground for hatred and vitriol, as Pakistani all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz and top bowler Naseem Shah are well aware.
Both cricketers have a big fan base, with millions of followers, and they often post photographs and videos of their practise sessions and workouts with their followers.
While their supporters lavish them with praise and admiration on social media, the world’s most famous cricketers are also subjected to a storm of unpleasant comments and toxic trends.
Both cricketers talked up about how they deal with bad trends and internet hostility in a recent interview with Shoaib Malik.
Naseem stressed that negative remarks can have an impact on performance, particularly before a game, but he tries to avoid reading negative comments as much as possible.
It is worth noting that the right-arm pacer rose to prominence when an altered video of him with Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela went viral on social media.
Yet, the 20-year-old has already stated that he does not know Urvashi Rautela. He expressed his delight at the number of people who came to see him play at the stadium.
Nawaz also talked about his experience with social media, saying that while he uses it, he tries to avoid negative trends that could harm his performance.
He received harsh criticism following Pakistan’s defeat to India in the T20 World Cup 2022 match, in which he had to defend 15 runs in the final over but was unable to seal the victory for his team.