Pakistani cricketers condemn fan's insults towards Haris Rauf's family after T20 World Cup exit
PTC Web Desk: Following Pakistan's early exit from the T20 World Cup 2024, a video emerged online depicting a heated exchange between cricketer Haris Rauf and a fan. The altercation reportedly ensued after the fan allegedly directed insults towards Rauf's family. In response, several Pakistani cricketers, including Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, and Ahmed Shehzad, took to social media to address the incident and advocate for respect towards players and their families.
A heated argument between Haris Rauf and a fan in the USA. pic.twitter.com/d2vt8guI1m
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 18, 2024
Hasan Ali, one of Haris Rauf's teammates, emphasised the need to promote love, peace, and respect for the game of cricket. Through a tweet, Hasan Ali urged fans to maintain a respectful demeanor and refrain from engaging in personal attacks, particularly in the presence of players' families.
I've seen a video circulating online about Harry @HarisRauf14 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… — Hassan Ali ???????? (@RealHa55an) June 18, 2024
It is the right of fans to criticise us for performances. We accept it and try to learn from it. It is not OKAY to attack anyone personally in their family’s presence, unacceptable. How would u feel if someone attacked u personally while with family? #HarisRauf @HarisRauf14 — Shadab Khan (@76Shadabkhan) June 18, 2024
It is irrelevant whether the person who disrespected Haris Rauf was from Pakistan or India. What truly matters is that this individual lacked values and manners. No one has the right to disrespect any human being, especially in front of their family members. Such appalling… — Muhammad Rizwan (@iMRizwanPak) June 18, 2024
As cricket fans, you can criticise the performance of players and their actions on the field. No one has the right to ridicule a player or their family, always respect their privacy. Criticise them for grouping in the team, for their friendships which has kept deserving players… — Ahmad Shahzad ???????? (@iamAhmadshahzad) June 18, 2024
Shadab Khan echoed similar sentiments, condemning the behaviour of fans who target players and their families with personal insults. He stressed the emotional impact such actions can have and questioned how individuals would feel if subjected to similar treatment in front of their families.
However, Mohammad Rizwan's response triggered controversy when he mentioned the nationality of the fan involved in the altercation. Despite the fan clarifying his Pakistani identity, Rizwan's inclusion of India in the discussion drew criticism on social media for unnecessarily dragging another country into the debate.
Even Ahmed Shehzad, known for his recent critiques of Babar Azam and the Pakistan cricket team, spoke out against the incident. Shehzad emphasised that while fans have the right to criticise players' performances on the field, it is unacceptable to ridicule players or their families. He called for respect for players' privacy and advocated for constructive criticism focused on improving Pakistani cricket.
The disappointing performance of the Pakistan cricket team in the T20 World Cup, including losses to USA and India, has intensified calls for changes within the team from former cricketers and experts. However, the incident involving Haris Rauf's family served as a stark reminder of the line between fair critique and unacceptable behaviour. Despite the team's struggles, the players united in condemning any actions that disrespect players and their families, emphasising the need for mutual respect and decorum within the cricketing community.
- With inputs from agencies
