Xtra Time Web Desk: Tabraiz Shamsi, the South African left-arm spinner, faced a barrage of online abuse recently after his exuberant celebration following the dismissal of India’s stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav during the second T20I in Gqeherba. Shamsi’s wicket of Yadav, a crucial breakthrough in the 14th over, contributed significantly to South Africa’s victory. However, the celebration, deemed disrespectful by some, triggered a wave of negative reactions directed at Shamsi, including abusive messages targeting him and his wife.
In response to the online abuse, Shamsi defended his celebration as a harmless, fun gesture and emphasized that it was not intended to disrespect the batsman. Despite addressing the issue on social media and explaining the nature of his celebration, Shamsi continued to face hateful comments.
In the aftermath, Shamsi called for more players to take a stand against online abusers. Expressing his displeasure at the involvement of personal attacks against his family, he urged for a distinction between criticizing players and crossing the line into inappropriate and disrespectful behaviour. Shamsi’s experience highlights the need for addressing online abuse in the world of sports and emphasizes the importance of players standing up against such behaviour.