Pakistan’s ICC T20 World Cup 2024 campaign in the USA and West Indies ended on a rough note on the field but also marred by an ugly incident off it. In a recent video going viral, pacer Haris Rauf was seen engaging in a heated argument with a fan, and had to be physically restrained by his wife and other personnel to prevent the situation from escalating further.
This explosive confrontation seemed to stem from the frustration and sadness among Pakistan’s players following their poor performance in the global tournament. Led by Babar Azam, the team failed to qualify for the Super Eights, crashing out during the group stage in a disappointing turn of events.
Pakistan had entered the competition with high hopes of claiming their second T20 world title, their first victory dating back to the 2009 edition. However, their campaign stumbled early with an unexpected defeat to the USA, followed by a crucial loss to arch-rivals India.
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Despite managing to secure wins against Canada and Ireland, Pakistan’s chances were all but dashed by a devastating last-over loss to India. The final blow came when the USA vs Ireland fixture was washed out, sealing Pakistan’s premature elimination from the tournament.
A heated argument between Haris Rauf and a fan in the USA. pic.twitter.com/d2vt8guI1m
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 18, 2024
Babar Azam had been reinstated as the captain of Pakistan’s white-ball team specifically for this event, following his resignation after last year’s ODI World Cup failure. However, even Azam’s leadership could not prevent the team from faltering in the T20 format.
Adding to the turmoil, head coach Gary Kirsten voiced his concerns about the team’s environment and lack of unity. Kirsten, known for his candid assessments, did not hold back in his criticism of the team’s dynamics and overall performance. His comments highlighted the need for addressing internal issues within the squad to improve future outcomes.
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“There’s no unity in Pakistan’s team. They call it a team, but it isn’t a team. They aren’t supporting each other; everyone is separated, left and right. I’ve worked with many teams, but I’ve never seen such a situation,” Gary Kirsten was quoted by TOI.
Kirsten’s remarks underscore the critical need for the Pakistan cricket team to foster better cohesion and support among its members to avoid similar disappointments in the future and to reclaim their standing in international cricket.
