According to The News, T20 captain Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, and a few other players, who extended their stay in the US despite the team’s elimination in the league stage, have limited their public interactions and are only meeting people they know well.
Read more: Pakistani players return home amid controversies, criticism and fights
This shift in the team’s approach towards fans follows a widely circulated video on social media showing Rauf, 30, confronting a fan who made negative remarks about him. In the video, Rauf, walking with his wife Muzna, becomes aggressive towards a fan accompanied by a group of youngsters. The footage shows Rauf running towards the fan despite efforts from his wife and others to hold him back.
Rauf later addressed the incident on his X account, providing his perspective. He wrote: “I decided not to bring this up 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 criticize 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.”
Read more: ‘I will not hesitate to respond when it comes to family’: Haris Rauf on viral fight with fan
Following the incident, Rauf received support from his teammates, who stated that while criticism is the right of every fan, it should be done respectfully. Rauf had been criticized for conceding 15 runs in the final over, which allowed the US to tie the match in Dallas and ultimately win in the Super Over.