Cricketer Imad Wasim is receiving backlash after being spotted smoking in a dressing room during the match between Multan Sultan and Islamabad United in Karachi’s National Stadium on Monday.
He was spotted smoking live on camera in the dressing room during the batting of Islamabad United. Social media users rushed in and called out the cricketer for misusing the space used by all the cricketers. They were of the view that the visuals gave a negative impression of him as he could have waited for the match to finish to smoke.
Earlier in the first innings, playing from Islamabad United, Imad Wasim had claimed five wickets that restricted Multan Sultan to 160 runs. Hence, some internet users called his smoking his flex.
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“How are our players so casual with smoking? First, Hamza Mir, now Imad Wasim?” a social media user took to the microblogging platform X to express her dismay. Even the cricketer’s diehard fans were compelled to admit that candidly smoking in the camera’s view was not the wisest call.
Another wrote, “Still can’t believe Imad got [a] fifer, went to the dressing room just for smoking a ciggy. WTF was he thinking? Like a camera wouldn’t catch him, who is this unhinged?”
Praises and accolades for his 5-fer soon turned into criticism and backlash. However, others believed that cameras and broadcasters could have prevented these visuals from being telecasted on TV.
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Another shared Imad’s picture and captioned it, “Take away the 5-fer and still Man of the Final,” while one cricket enthusiast remarked, “This new character arc is intriguing even for a veteran Imad hater like me.”
Islamabad United beat Multan Sultan with two wickets in a nail-biting finish of the PSL 9. Multan Sultans led by Muhammad Rizwan set a target of 160 runs for Islamabad United to chase in order to win the trophy.
Imad Wasim from United stood out with his five-wicket knock. Later Naseem Shah with his unbelievable hitting brought Islamabad United in a comfortable position to seal the victory. Islamabad United chased down the target on the last ball of the innings.