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'Had So Much Abuse Hurled..'- Shamsi On Social Media Bullying After Dismissing SKY

image-lqmedkjhTabraiz Shamsi | Source: X.com

In this digital age, as social media reaches global audiences, even cricket isn't immune to online bullying. Recently, South African player Tabraiz Shamsi found himself at the centre of social media attacks.

The South African spinner exposed the dark side of fandom after he took down Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav in a recent T20 match against India. Fans resorted to social media abuse, with some crossing the line by targeting Shamsi's wife. 

The episode unfolded on December 12 during the second T20I at St George’s Park, where Shamsi's pivotal dismissal of Suryakumar Yadav triggered a vehement response from Indian fans across various social media platforms. 

Here’s what Shamsi told Cricbuzz

“People took it in a negative way; they thought it was disrespectful. I had so much abuse hurled at me. It was probably the worst it's ever been. There was also abuse hurled at my wife. I didn't appreciate that. It's uncalled for. It's fine if you want to have a dig at the players, but to involve family and say nasty things, that pushes it to another level.”

Shamsi further expressed concern that fans think they can say and abuse anything when players remain silent. He stressed the need for a shift in this behaviour. The Proteas spinner added:

“I feel that if players don’t say anything about it, then people think they have free licence. More people need to speak up and say it’s not OK. Yes, we’re all trying our best. Yes, your team might not win or you might not agree with certain things. But you need to behave like a human being. You can’t carry on like an animal," he added.

Meanwhile, there is a growing effort from cricket authorities to tackle the escalating problem of online abuse faced by players. The continuous targeting of players, not confined to the sports realm, is prompting significant concerns about their mental health and overall well-being.