Top Ten Cricketers Having Most Haters

Be it any country that plays cricket; cricketers have transformed into role models. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Kane Williamson, and Adam Gilchrist are not only known for their exemplary sporting skills but also their conduct on the field. Hence, the word hatred rarely gets associated with them even if they don’t deliver in terms of performances.

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On the other hand, surprisingly, there do exist a few, who most fans dislike. These men consistently have had a history of wrong-doings on the field, including claiming doubtful catches and using obscene language on the players and umpires. Thus, such players often come under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.

We take a look at ten most despised Cricketers:

Ahmed Shehzad:

Ahmed Shehzad is one of the most talented batsmen that Pakistan has tried to nurture it over a long time. He is often known for his confident stroke-playing with an attacking intent along with a spirited display on the field. Shehzad is also widely dubbed as the Virat Kohli of Pakistan, mainly due to his looks. Except that the former Pakistan opening batsman has remained poles apart from the Indian captain when it comes to performances. The Lahore-born batsman has lacked the discipline and commitment to make it big.

Controversies also have been part and parcel of Shehzad’s career. During a One-day international between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2014 in Dambulla, the 28-year old persuaded Tillakaratne Dilshan to convert himself to Muslim. A camera caught him saying ” if you are a non-Muslim and you turn Muslim, no matter whatever you do in your life, (you will go) straight to heaven. That was indeed disgraceful to make comments regarding religious issues, especially when on a foreign tour.

Also, in 2015, Ahmed Shehzad claimed a catch against Sri Lanka in 2015, which clearly hit the ground. The ball hit the ground while the fielder made it look like he had clung on to a difficult catch. With the help of replays, the umpires overturned the decision to not out, which was initially given out. That was an instance of bringing the game into disrepute.

Sarfaraz Ahmed:

Unlike Pakistan’s past captains like Imran Khan and Wasim Akram, Sarfaraz Ahmed lacked the proactiveness and the ability to get the best out of his side. Before becoming the skipper, Sarfaraz’s performances were good enough to guarantee himself a spot in the team. In a high voltage game against India at the 2019 World Cup, the leader of the outfit was caught yawning behind the stumps.

Before the mega event, the keeper-batsman racially abused South Africa’s Andile Phehlukwayo in an ODI in Durban. His racial comments on an away series created a lot of stir as the ICC banned him for four matches as a punishment. Prior to the tour of Australia in late 2019, the PCB sacked the 32-year old as the captain due to a T20 series whitewash against Sri Lanka at home.

Ricky Ponting:

Ricky Ponting has etched his name as not only the greatest Australian batsman so far but also one of them in the world. Even as captain, the Tasmanian has an exceptional record, leading Australia to the peak in Tests and ODIs. But as much greatness he is widely known for, Ponting’s career has been marred with controversies.

His falsely claimed catches during India’s tour of Australia in 2008 and influencing umpires to make decisions into his favour cost the tourists a series victory. Also, during the 2010-11 Ashes rubber, the 45-year old was indulged in an altercation with the umpire Aleem Dar over his refusal to give the batsman out. Hence, Ponting has hardly found himself in fans’ good books.

S Sreesanth:

The Kerala-born speedster was one of India’s emerging speedsters. Sreesanth bowled with plenty of intensity; however, at times, he used to step over the line with animated celebrations. The right-arm pacer’s lively celebrations of wickets were often aimed at mocking the batsmen. Due to this, Sreesanth copped bans and fines on more occasions than a few. The unnecessary antics also had a negative effect on the performances.

The 37-year old’s biggest setback occurred when he was accused of spot-fixing in the 2013 edition of the IPL as part of Rajasthan Royals. The scandal plunged his entire career into the gutter as the BCCI imposed a life ban on him in August 2013. The prohibition was reduced to seven years later, which makes the speedster eligible to represent India from September 2020.

Mushfiqur Rahim:

It was Mushfiqur Rahim, who officially invented the ‘Nagin dance’ during Bangladesh’s emphatic victory against Sri Lanka at the Nidahas Trophy in 2018. The keeper-batsman’s knock of 72 off 35 balls in that game helped his side overhaul a target of 215. However, the disgraceful celebration it came back to bite Bangladesh in the final as India beat them to clinch the title.

The entire Sri Lankan crowd turned hostile towards the Tigers and mocked them relentlessly after their defeat to the men in blue. During India’s 2016 T20 World Cup fixture against Bangladesh, the 32-year old’s premature celebration and lack of level-headedness cost them a famous victory. After hitting two successive fours, the equation came down to two required off the final four deliveries. However, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah both went for glory shots, resulting in theirs and the side’s downfall.

Shahid Afridi:

Shahid Afridi is one of the most decorated cricketers ever since his debut. Due to his charming looks and swashbuckling show with the bat, he has transformed into a fan favourite. At the same time, he is often condemned by his countrymen for his reckless display too, which has resulted in Pakistan’s wobble. And unlike several Pakistan cricketers, controversies have followed the all-rounder.

While also praising India and their cricketers most of the times, he has found himself under the spotlight for his comments on sensitive issues. For instance, most recently, the retired cricketer’s statement regarding Kashmir received widespread criticism. Additionally, Afridi retires and revokes his retirement plans as and when he desires. During his 19-year national career, he has retired at least five times and made a comeback.

Jofra Archer:

Jofra Archer has added a new layer of depth to England’s bowling stocks since his appearance for them in 2019. His lightning-fast display with the ball has pushed most of the batsmen to the edge, earning him a plethora of accolades. The Barbados-born speedster took 22 wickets across four Tests in the 2019 Ashes series.

As much as Archer enjoyed a promising start to his career, his on-field attitude has come under the spotlight. During the second Ashes Test at Lord’s when a bouncer from him floored Australia’s Steve Smith, instead of attending to him, the 24-year old had a smirk on his face. In retrospect, Smith was the only batsmen in that innings, who stood up to Archer’s frightening pace bowling and suffered a concussion from that demonic delivery.

Hansie Cronje:

Hansie Cronje’s admission to match-fixing in 2000 came as a body blow to a cricketing nation that found its way back in the early 1990s to cricket after a long hiatus. Cronje captained South Africa in a record 53 Tests and 140 ODIs with imposing winning statistics in both of them.

Along with the then Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin, both of them faced life ban. On 7th April 2000, Delhi police revealed a recording between Cronje and bookie Sanjay Chawla that substantiated the allegations against him. Two years later in 2002, the beleaguered former skipper died in a plane crash.

David Warner:

David Warner boasts everything in his armoury to line up as one of Australia’s greatest cricketers when he retires. However, he would forever be known as the mastermind behind the infamous ball-tampering scandal. The little dynamite persuaded an inexperienced Cameron Bancroft to tamper with the red-cherry to gain an unfair advantage in the Newlands Test against South Africa in March 2018.

Due to the orchestration, he had to face a year-ban from Cricket Australia along with the then captain Steve Smith. Bancroft, who carried out the disgraceful act, was prohibited for nine months. Nevertheless, Warner made a successful comeback in 2019 in all three formats for Australia.

Greg Chappell:

Greg Chappell shares a vast piece of history with the Indian team. The likes of Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, and Harbhajan Singh criticised the coach for implementing a divide and rule policy. The division amongst the teammates was significantly responsible for India’s World Cup debacle in 2007.

Also, Greg coaxed his brother Trevor Chappell to bowl an underarm delivery in 1981 against New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. With six required in the final off the last ball, captain Greg asked his brother to bowl an underarm ball along the ground. The rule was within the laws of the game that time but against the provisions of the Benson and Hedges World Series Cup.

The ball denied Brian McKechnie sufficient elevation to get underneath it and smash it for a six. After that, the Kiwi players walked off in disgust with McKechnie swatted the bat to the ground in frustration.

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