Simon Doull has spoken out against the abuse he has received on social media following his criticism of Babar Azam during his maiden Pakistan Super League hundred yesterday (March 8).
Taking to Instagram, Doull posted a screenshot of a user sending him an expletive-filled message along with the caption, “So sorry to have upset you Feroz. It’s just an opinion and I get paid for it. It’s ok if you don’t agree but this language is never ok. And my mother has also passed.” The message made a derogatory reference to Doull’s mother and sister.
Doull received support from several sources, including former England cricketer and fellow commentator Alex Hartley as well as from former Pakistan cricketer Sana Mir.
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Yesterday, while commentating on the tournament, Doull had suggested that Babar was playing for his milestone rather than for the team, with the Peshawar Zalmi captain slowing down as he approached three figures. He took 16 balls to move from 80 to 100.
“The last little while, that [hitting singles] is all that has been happening rather than looking for boundaries still, when you’ve got so much firepower to come,” he said. “Hundreds are great, stats are brilliant, but it still must be team first.”
Though Babar’s innings helped his side reach 240-2, a century from Jason Roy gave Quetta Gladiators victory with 10 balls to spare.
Doull has not been afraid to criticise Pakistan’s established stars this tournament. When Mohammad Rizwan was struggling with injury and batting on 51 off 43 balls in a game earlier in the competition, Doull suggested he retire himself out. “I hate to say it, but he’s just got to get off,” he said. “He’s striking at 109, you’ve got enormous power to come, just leave the field, chief. You are the skipper, do the right thing by your team. You can’t run the twos quickly. You’re not helping your mate at the other end. I’d say just go off, get treatment, you’ve done your job.”
Rizwan went on to make a hundred, but Doull stood by his opinion later in the game.
