Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf, who has been under scrutiny along with the national team following an early exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup, addressed a recent altercation with a fan. This comes after a video of Rauf involved in a heated argument went viral on social media. Pakistan's exit followed defeats against the USA and India in the group stage, leading to heightened public and media attention.
Rauf issued a statement on X, explaining his stance on the incident. "I decided to not bring this up on social media, but now that the video is out, I feel it is necessary to address the situation," he wrote. "As public figures, we are open to receiving all kinds of feedback from the public. They are entitled to support or criticise us. Nevertheless, when it comes to my parents and my family, I will not hesitate to respond accordingly. It is important to show respect towards people and their families, irrespective of their professions," he added.
In the viral clip, Rauf is seen walking alongside his wife when he encounters a group of people. While the exact words exchanged are not audible, the interaction causes Rauf to lose his temper and approach one of the individuals aggressively.
Shaheen Shah Afridi also expressed his support for Rauf on his X account, condemning the treatment his teammate received. "It is disgraceful how Haris Rauf was treated. No one has the right to belittle and disrespect another person. I’m also shocked by those who have shared this video. Why prioritise a few over our humanity? Stay strong, Haris. We stand united with you," Afridi wrote.
Additionally, Hasan Ali, who was not part of Pakistan's T20 World Cup squad, urged fans to be constructive in their criticism on social media. "I’ve seen a video circulating online about Harry (Haris Rauf) and I urge all my dearest cricket fans to remember that criticism can be constructive without being hurtful. Let’s keep the debate respectful and considerate of the players’ families. Let’s promote love, peace, and respect for the GAME. We all want Pakistan cricket to rise," Ali stated.
Despite the team's early exit from the tournament, Rauf's performance was notable. In four games, he took seven wickets at an economy rate of 6.73, tying with Mohammad Amir as the joint-highest wicket-taker for Pakistan.