Haris Rauf: “One bad match doesn’t mean you have become a bad bowler. But back home, people immediately start saying that he is finished, do this to him, do that to him”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf believes it is unfair for critics to say “he is finished” after one bad performance.
He noted that bowlers are bound to concede runs in high-scoring matches, especially given how the game has evolved in the modern era.
Rauf acknowledged that some players face heavier criticism than others simply because expectations from them are significantly higher.
“One bad match doesn’t mean you have become a bad bowler. But back home, people immediately start saying that he is finished, do this to him, do that to him,” the 32-year-old told Geo News.
“Given the kind of grounds, pitches, and boundaries we have nowadays, runs are bound to be scored. In high-scoring matches, bowlers from both teams will concede runs. It’s not that one or two bowlers will go for runs while the other four won’t.
“If you are being criticised while others are not, it means people have high expectations of you. When you don’t live up to those expectations, they start talking. Fans have emotions, and they can’t always tolerate it. The effort is to meet those expectations. We ourselves also get emotional sometimes and can’t handle it.”
Rauf was not selected for Pakistan’s recent three-Test series against England, where the men in green were pummelled 3-0.