Babar Azam among players distancing themselves from fans in US following Haris Rauf's altercation

Players are now choosing to meet only with acquaintances

KARACHI:

After Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf got into a heated exchange with a fan, members of the Pakistan cricket team are now maintaining distance from fans in the United States following their early exit from the T20 World Cup 2024.

According to media reports, T20 captain Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, and several others from the team, who extended their stay in the US despite their elimination in the tournament's league stage, have reduced their public interactions. They are now choosing to meet only with acquaintances.

This change in behaviour towards fans comes after a widely circulated video on social media showed 30-year-old Rauf confronting a fan who had directed negative remarks at him.

A video of Rauf getting involved in a heated verbal altercation with a fan in the USA had gone viral on social media. Despite efforts from his wife and friends to restrain him, Rauf charged towards the fan.

The confrontation, recorded on video, shows Rauf referring to the fan as "Indian hoga" (he must be Indian), to which the fan retorted, "Pakistani hoon" (I am from Pakistan).

The exchange escalated, with both parties trading expletives before others intervened to prevent any physical altercation.

The team's exit without reaching the Super Eight round in the T20 World Cup has subjected the players to harsh criticism from fans and media alike.