Why is the Umbrella Image of Commentators in Multan Going Viral in India and Pakistan?
During the Test match between Pakistan and England, while much of the conversation revolved around Pakistan’s poor performance and England’s relentless run-scoring, a particular image from the broadcast has gone viral across social media in both India and Pakistan.
The image features former England captain Nasser Hussain, former Pakistan captain Aamir Sohail, and host Zainab Abbas, all seated on set at the ground for pre-match commentary. What caught people’s attention wasn’t a controversial statement, but rather a small act in the picture that sparked criticism.
In the picture, Nasser Hussain is seen holding his umbrella to shield himself from the scorching Multan sun, where temperatures reached 35°C. However, Zainab Abbas and Aamir Sohail had someone else holding their umbrellas. This small detail caused a stir, leading to a wave of criticism on social media.
Many social media users labeled the Pakistani commentators as having a colonial mindset for not holding their own umbrellas.
One user commented, “The foreign guest holds his own umbrella, but both Pakistanis have someone else holding theirs. This shows how much we’ve regressed as a society.”
Typically, it’s common to see umbrellas on outdoor sets to provide shade during broadcasts, just like behind-the-scenes footage from movie shoots where actors are often shaded by crew members. Similarly, in sports like golf, a caddie usually holds an umbrella for the player.
Upon further review, it appears that this image was taken during a break. During the actual live broadcast, all three individuals can be seen sitting without umbrellas, as seen in other images.
However, this image caught attention in India as well, with many commenting on similar societal behavior. One Indian user, Tirumala Venkatesh, posted, “I’ve seen this behavior in a Delhi gym… people need staff to even load weights and clean the bench for them.”
Sanjay Mehta added, “This isn’t just a problem in Pakistan but in India too. Here, there’s a specialist for every little task. If you call someone to install an exhaust fan, you’ll have different people for each step.”
Another user agreed, saying, “The problem lies in our arrogance, thinking such behavior is our right.”
One Pakistani user, Waqas, commented, “Nasser Hussain, one of the world’s best commentators, holds his own umbrella, while these so-called celebrities need someone to do it for them.”
Another user, Shehryar, posted, “This one picture is enough to show why Britain is progressing while Pakistan remains stagnant.”
Arham, another user, offered a different perspective: “In my opinion, Nasser Hussain held his own umbrella because if someone else did, they could appear in the camera frame. Holding an umbrella while talking, writing, and holding a mic on live TV isn’t easy. Show some sympathy for them!”
