Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq, who last played for them during the Boxing Day Test against Australia in 2023, has asked for Babar Azam to be respected more than what he gets from Pakistan.
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In his recent chat with CricWick on their YouTube channel, Imam also expressed the love that they received in India when they visited for the World Cup in 2023.
The opening batter further spoke about not having seen a global fan following like Babar gets and compared it to the one with the superstars of yesteryears.
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Why did Imam-ul-Haq demand Pakistan fans to show more respect for Babar Azam?
During his interview, the 29-year-old felt that the Pakistan public is never happy with someone getting recognition and love and finds faults and makes memes about them,
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"I have been playing since 2017 and have not seen anyone having such a fandom. I wish the Pakistan public would see the fandom that he has outside Pakistan. I believe that he doesn't get respect here and the memes are made about him and talk trash about him," he said.
"Whether it is Babar, Sarfaraz Ahmed or Hasan Ali, they are all Pakistani players. If they are getting some respect, then why are you not happy with it? Even Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi and Inzamam-ul-Haq got this fame, I have seen it. Why do people don't digest if someone new is getting it?" he questioned.
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He further spoke about the love that the Pakistan team got in India during their visit to the World Cup in 2023,
"It [love in India] was surreal. We felt like stars. So many fans visited us at the hotel and the airport. It was an unbelievably great feeling. Not only Babar but they wanted to see all of us. People knew when we were going to travel anywhere."
I wish Pakistanis could see his global fandom. Babar Azam still doesn’t get the respect he truly deserves - Imam ul Haq🏏✨
— CricWick (@CricWick) December 19, 2024
Full Episode link in comments 👇#BabarAzam #fandom #CricketPodcast #imamulhaq pic.twitter.com/5G50eCzK0d
Pakistan squad for Test series against South Africa
Here’s the full squad:
- Shan Masood (captain)
- Saud Shakeel (vice-captain)
- Aamir Jamal
- Abdullah Shafique
- Abrar Ahmed
- Babar Azam
- Mir Hamza
- Mohammad Huraira
- Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper)
- Naseem Shah
- Noman Ali
- Saim Ayub
- Salman Ali Agha
- Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper)
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
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