Two videos of Pakistan’s white-ball captain, Babar Azam, have caused a stir on social media, dividing users into different groups.
During the domestic event, the Champions One Day Cup, a large number of fans flocked to the stadium in Faisalabad to catch a glimpse of Babar Azam and support their favorite players.
In one video, a young fan managed to slip past the fence and enter the stadium to take a photo with Babar on his phone before leaving.
Babar Azam posed for a photo with the young fan and appeared in good spirits, while the team’s mentor, Shoaib Malik, instructed the security guard not to stop the child.
However, another video showed a fan waiting to take a photo with Babar Azam by placing a hand on his shoulder. Babar Azam dismissed the fan’s hand, leading to criticism.
Some fans argue that Babar Azam was more accommodating with the young fan because senior cricketers were present, while he was less approachable with fans in the absence of senior players.
It is worth noting that prior to the start of the T20 World Cup 2024, national cricketers in the U.S. faced severe criticism for charging $25 for fan meet-and-greets and photo sessions.