Cricket

Pakistan's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup 2024 has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with captain Babar Azam and his teammates facing intense criticism. The situation escalated when a video emerged of pacer Haris Rauf engaging in an altercation with a fan.In response, several of Rauf's teammates took to social media to express their support. However, this move drew the ire of former Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad, who accused the players of trying to deflect blame.Shehzad, who has been vocal in his criticism of the team's performance, argued that the players should apologize to fans rather than sharing posts in support of Rauf. He also urged them to cancel their overseas holidays and return home."While we fully condemn what happened to Haris Rauf, it is also important that the posts put up by the players in support of Haris should be taken away from the fans due to his poor performance in the World Cup. It should have been as an apology," Shehzad wrote on social media.Shehzad believes that the players are attempting to change the narrative by sharing such posts. He emphasized the need for accountability, as the team has failed to win any major trophies in the past five years."It would be good if these players would apologize to the nation, if these players would be ashamed and if these players would return to Pakistan instead of spending holidays in America, England or Dubai. These posts by the players should not change the narrative and the fans should get answers for the poor performances of the players," Shehzad added."Accountability is very important now. The same group of players have not won anything for our country in the last five years and they have kept prioritizing personal milestones rather than the collective success of Pakistan," he concluded.

Pakistan Cricketers Babar Azam and Azam Khan Draw Flak for Insensitive ActPakistan cricket captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan have come under fire for an insensitive act that has sparked outrage on social media. Ahead of the T20I series against England, a video emerged showing Azam wiping his forehead with a bundle of foreign currency while Babar, who was allegedly recording the video, teased him and laughed.The video has drawn widespread criticism from social media users, who have condemned the players' actions as disrespectful and insensitive. Many have pointed out that the act is particularly offensive given the economic challenges faced by many Pakistanis."This is a shameful act by two of our national cricketers," said one user on Twitter. "They should be ashamed of themselves for showing such disrespect for our currency."Another user commented, "This is not the behavior we expect from our cricketers. They should be role models for our youth, not setting bad examples."The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not yet commented on the incident, but it is likely that the players will face some form of disciplinary action.The incident comes at a time when Pakistan is preparing for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia. The team has been in good form recently, having beaten Ireland 2-1 in a three-match T20I series.However, the controversy surrounding Babar and Azam Khan could overshadow the team's preparations for the World Cup. The players will need to quickly put this incident behind them and focus on the task at hand.