Muhammad Asif the former Pakistan fast bowler has openly called on the national cricket team captain Babar Azam not to get engaged in cricket politics. Regarding such participation, the wise old bird shared his fears about the consequences that it may have on the captain’s reputation, the morale of the team, and the perception of Pakistan cricket.

It is not a rare occurrence in the cricketing world when athletes are faced with the situation of sports & politics interlinking. It is also worth remembering that freedom of speech is granted, however, when citizens and especially officials express opinions on delicate issues and topics within the organization it is better to be more cautious. Babar Azam has the great honor of leading the cricket team of Pakistan and Pavel symbolizes the unity of the nation with his efforts on the sporting field.

As Muhammad Asif is a more experienced sportsperson now, he underlined some significant rules, such as not taking sides because, for people in Pakistan, Cricket is more than sports. Staying away from such issues, Babar Azam can stick to his job which is to be a cricketer and in turn, thousands of his fans can motivate him through his performance on the cricket field.

The former pacer has given this advice at the right time when Pakistan cricket is on the rise. It has a good team and fans and therefore stands to benefit by earning huge results in its endeavors. However, with time, external influences such as game political influences would limit the team’s performance and even cause splits among the fans.

Babar as head of the Pakistan cricket team that is loved by millions of people can indeed influence millions. In other words, given the focus on cricket and the steering clear of controversial issues to do with game politics, he can mobilize a positive environment for the sport. The use of this approach will be highly beneficial to the team and will complement the formation of a harmonious spirit of the game that benefits everyone who is part of it.

Everyone has the right to free speech including athletes but one has to think is it right to forward some statements to the sports domain knowing the repercussions that comes with it. If Babar Azam can manage to stay honest in his love for the sport of cricket, he might just unite the generations that are to follow his run.