Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull will be back as a commentator for Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024. The cricketer-turned-commentator faced the ire of Pakistani fans last year for his comments about Babar Azam and criticism of the nature of pitches in Pakistan.
Despite facing serious flak from Pakistani and Babar Azam fans in general, PSL organizers have decided to bring back Doull as one of the seven foreign commentators for the T20 league.
Simon Doull’s criticism of Babar Azam
During the Pakistan vs England 2nd Test in Karachi, the Kiwi commentator lashed out at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the then captain, Babar Azam, for the poor pitches. He even went as far as saying that Babar has decided to play on such lifeless surfaces to improve his stats.
“Where does that directive come from? Does that come from Babar, who wants to bat on a road and improve his own stats? Does it come from above him?” Doull had said it live on air.
The commentator had gotten severe flak for his comments but didn’t back down. He once again criticized Babar Azam, this time for his performance during the PSL 2023 season. He targeted the star Pakistani batter for playing selfish cricket and batting for his stats instead of his team.
“Rather than putting the team first… the last little while, that’s all that been happening. Rather than looking for boundaries, still so much firepower to come. Hundreds are brilliant, stats are great, but it has to be team first,” Doull said live on air during the Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators match.
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