Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf has become the talk of the town after a video of his ugly altercation with a Pakistani fan took the internet by storm on Tuesday (June 18).
In the viral video, Rauf can be seen taking a walk with his wife on the streets of USA when he lost his cool after a verbal exchange with a fan. He charged towards the fan and threatened to hit him before being stopped by his wife and a couple of other individuals present around.
“Tera India nahi hai ye (This is not your India),” Rauf can be heard telling the fan, who responded by saying that he is a Pakistani.
“Nahi, main Pakistan se hoon, 1 picture maangi hai bass aapka fan hoon,” the person told Rauf, who retorted with by shouting: “Pakistani hai aur yeh teri haalat hai. Baap ko gaali dega (You are a Pakistani and you are abusing my father).”
Following the incident, Haris Rauf released a statement on social media platform X, accusing the fan of passing derogatory remarks against his family members, adding that he will not hesitate to act if such behaviour continues to happen in the future.
“I decided not to bring this on social media, but now that the video is out, I feel it is necessary to address the situation. 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,” Rauf’s statement read.
After Haris Rauf's scuffle with the fan emerged on social media, the pacer’s Pakistan teammates strongly condemned the incident and asked the fans to respect boundaries between personal and professional lives.
Here are the reactions:
Discussing this incident on a local Pakistani news channel, former cricketer Basit Ali faulted Haris Rauf for calling the fan Indian. However, the anchor said that he spoke to the Pakistan pacer and he was convinced that the fan was from Pakistan nationality rather than India.
"I spoke to Haris Rauf and he is convinced that guy is Pakistani. He might have assumed the fan as an Indian in a flow of emotions. I asked him and he said that guy is from Pakistan. But, he shouldn't have mistaken him as an Indian," the anchor said on ARY News.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan cricket team has been eliminated from the ongoing T20 World Cup in the group stage itself.
To stay alive in the Super 8 race, the 2009 champions needed Ireland to beat the United States in Florida. However, inclement weather played spoilsport as the match ended in a no-result, pushing USA to the next round alongside India from Group A.
The Men in Green paid the price for a Super Over defeat against USA in their campaign opener, followed by a nervy six-run defeat at the hands of arch-rivals India.
