Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf lost his cool when questioned about Pakistan’s fielding after the tri-nation T20 opener against Afghanistan in Sharjah.
During the post-match press conference, a journalist suggested that the series was just preparation for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. Haris strongly disagreed, stressing that international cricket should never be considered practice.
He said, “You are saying this was a practice match, but in my opinion, no international match is just preparation. Every international match comes with pressure, and you can’t play it casually.”
Tensions rose when the journalist remarked that Pakistan’s fielding was poor. The comment visibly surprised Haris, who firmly defended his team. He responded, “I think you didn’t watch the match properly. We didn’t make such fielding mistakes. If you review again, you’ll see it was actually good.”
When asked whether Afghanistan were favorites, the 31-year-old pacer dismissed the idea, saying Pakistan is always the favorite team.
Haris also highlighted the importance of leadership and respect for the captain. He said unity and clear communication are key to winning under pressure. “Whoever captains Pakistan is worthy of respect. As players, we owe them respect, good communication, and strong teamwork to execute any plan on the field.”
