{
  "id": 18288135,
  "title": "\"Toxic and uneducated\": Pakistan's Azam Khan calls out Babar Azam's fanbases",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/toxic-and-uneducated-pakistans-azam-khan-calls-out-babar-azams",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T09:02:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/sport/toxic-and-uneducated-pakistans-azam-khan-calls-out-babar-azams-fanbases-1.500736899"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dubai - Pakistan's former wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan has harshly criticized the behaviour of Babar Azam's fanbase, describing them as \"toxic and uneducated\" following an incident in Ireland. Khan disclosed this on the 'Backward Point Cricket Podcast', recounting a time when a supporter sent a threatening message on his Instagram, threatening harm to his family if Babar failed to reach a century. Despite this, Khan emphasized that his comments were not directed at Babar's abilities.\n\nKhan further criticized the broader culture among Pakistan cricket supporters, insisting that his remarks were not about Babar's performance. He highlighted a similar situation in 1992 when Pakistan won the World Cup under Imran Khan's leadership, suggesting that the team would again overcome challenges and succeed in Australia. The current team, led by Babar Azam, has already made a significant run towards the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where Pakistan won their last championship.\n\nKhan's comments come amid ongoing online abuse that cricketers receive from fans. He played in the 2024 T20 World Cup with Babar, with Pakistan losing a Super Over match against the USA. Despite this, Khan acknowledged Babar's consistent performance between 2019 and 2021, but his latest remarks underscore the intense pressure and hostile online environment players face from supporters. Khan's criticism was directed at fan behavior, not Babar's skills. He added that such criticism no longer bothers him.",
  "summary": "Dubai: Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan has taken aim at the behaviour of Babar Azam’s supporters, describing the former captain’s fanbase as “toxic and uneducated” after recalling the abuse he received on social media. Speaking on the ‘Backward Point Cricket Podcast’, Azam said the hostility came after he batted alongside Babar in an international match in Ireland. Babar was approaching a…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}