Babar Azam, other players avoid interactions with fans in US after Haris Rauf incident

Pakistani skipper Babar Azam and other cricketers, who decided to stay in the US after the team's early exit from the T20 World Cup tournament, are avoiding public engagement and prefer to interact only with close friends following Haris Rauf's brawl with a fan.

According to reports, the players have reduced their public appearances amidst criticism regarding their lackluster performance.

In a recent incident, an angry cricket fan hurled negative comments at the 30-year-old fast bowler who was with his wife. 

Haris, in reaction, approached the man and engaged in a heated exchange with him while others intervened to de-escalate the situation.

The video showed Haris saying, "Indian hoga" (he must be Indian), but the fan identified himself as a Pakistani. 

Later, Haris Rauf spoke about the incident on social media, stating “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 parent 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.

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pic.twitter.com/KuUSZWoDaq

— Haris Rauf (@HarisRauf14) June 18, 2024

The incident sparked criticism on social media, with the cricket fraternity condemning the fan's actions and urging critics to respect the players' families.

After a disappointing brief stint in the T20 World Cup, Babar Azam, and five teammates including Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Azam Khan opted to extend their stay in the US for a bit longer before returning home.