From Blaming Anushka For Virat’s Performance To Trolling Hasan Ali’s Wife… When Will We Stop Blaming Wives Of Male Athletes?

Recently, Hasan Ali and his wife were brutally trolled on social media for Pakistan’s loss in the semi-finals of World Cup T-20. And this is not the first time that wives of male athletes have been subjected to such trolling. Sania Mirza was viciously attacked after husband Shoaib’s poor performance, especially against India. And how many times has Anushka Sharma been blamed for Virat Kohli’s loss?

A few days ago, in the World Cup T-20 semi-final match between Australia and Pakistan, the men in yellow came back from the brink to defeat the latter. In a way, luck played a factor as Hasan Ali dropped a crucial catch, and the next successive balls saw a hat-trick of sixes from Mathew Wade. Expectedly, Hasan Ali and his Indian wife became the subject of memes and was exposed to brutal trolling.

Feels like Deja Vu? Ferocious trolling of Ali’s wife… Just like attacks on Anushka Sharma and Sania Mirza!

While sipping our morning tea, my husband mentioned that Hasan Ali is married to an Indian. Curiosity made me google her. And then, I saw some pretty nasty comments on Hasan’s Insta account, most of them pertaining to his being a Shia and having a ‘Hindustani Biwi’. I have very little knowledge of Islam, though I know it’s unfair to bring up his faith. I will concentrate on the latter.

But I am digressing. This post is not directed towards sportsmanship or the technicalities of cricket. Let me leave that to the experts.

Sania Mirza had been subjected to vicious attacks after her husband Shoaib’s poor performance, especially against India. And the least said about Anushka Sharma, the better? How many times has she been blamed for Virat Kohli’s losses? I have lost count of them.

Blame it on the women! Did your husband bowl a wide? Did he drop a sitter? Did he get run out? It’s your fault.

Why are wives always targeted? What if men were blamed for the performance of female athletes?

I am not saying patriarchy is rampant only in the subcontinent. No! No way! However, I am yet to see a post bashing Danielle for AB de Villier’s bad performances. How about the reverse? Our women players are now making a name for themselves in the international arena, despite the obstacles and fewer sponsorships. They have had their bad days too. Just like other sports. Have the menfolk been blamed yet? I am still searching for that article. Chances are, it doesn’t exist.

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These comments actually put men in a bad light. They must be so immature and so ‘shamelessly henpecked’, that they lost an international match to please their wives!

Ladies! Especially the wives & girlfriends of celebrity athletes! Take a bow… You do not deserve to put up with all this!

Image source: @mirzasaniar, @ha55an_ali, @anushkasharma (Instagram)

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