Haris Rauf urged fans to be patient while young players get enough opportunities to prove themselves.
Pakistan’s cricket team continues to struggle. After a disappointing Champions Trophy campaign at home, they failed to compete in the first two T20 matches in New Zealand. As criticism poured in, a frustrated Haris Rauf claimed that some people in Pakistan eagerly wait for the team to lose just so they can criticize the players.
Pakistan hosted an ICC event after 28 years with the Champions Trophy but crashed out in the group stage under Mohammad Rizwan’s captaincy after losing the first two matches. Their final game was washed out.
Pakistan’s failures in global tournaments have been consistent. They were eliminated in the group stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup and the last two ODI World Cups.
Even with a format change, their performance remains the same. In New Zealand, they lost the first two matches of the five-match T20 series against a second-string opposition. In Christchurch, they were bowled out for 91 and lost by 9 wickets—Pakistan’s lowest total on New Zealand soil.
Their batting showed slight improvement in the second T20 in Dunedin. The rain-shortened 15-over game saw Pakistan post 135 for 9, but on the batting-friendly University Oval, it wasn’t enough. New Zealand chased it down with ease, winning by 5 wickets. Apart from new captain Salman Ali Agha’s 46 off 28 balls, no one made a significant contribution.
Rauf, who picked up two wickets in the match, defended the young players in the post-match press conference, stating that they need ample time to prove themselves.
“Criticizing players in Pakistan has become very common. Young cricketers need opportunities. If you look at other teams, their youngsters get complete freedom. They are given 10–15 matches to prove themselves. It’s normal to struggle at the start of an international career. But in Pakistan, people wait for us to lose. Everyone has their own opinion.”
Pakistan is on this tour with a fresh approach, leaving out seniors like Rizwan and Babar Azam and appointing Salman as captain. Rauf insisted they are giving their best.
“We are giving our best and focusing on team building. As seniors, we are motivating the younger players and guiding them on what international cricket is like.”
Pakistan will face New Zealand in Auckland on Friday, hoping to avoid a series defeat.
