Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf has said that it is very common in the country to criticise their players and people of the nation wait to see them lose, taking a massive dig at his countrymen after yet another dismal performance.
The Salman Ali Agha-led time lost the second T20I of the five-match series against New Zealand by five wickets and the visitors are now facing another series defeat.
Rauf, who took two wickets with the ball, said that certain people back home are waiting to see Pakistan lose so that they can criticise players.
“It is now a common thing in Pakistan to criticise players. These are young players who have been given an opportunity. If you look at the rest of the teams, the youngsters are given full freedom,” Rauf said while speaking at the post-match press conference.
“They are given 10-15 games. When you first enter international cricket, you struggle. That goes without saying. It is now common in Pakistan. People are waiting to see us lose,” Rauf added.
Before the T20I series against New Zealand, Pakistan bowed out of the Champions Trophy in the group stage after losing games against New Zealand and India.
Rauf said that his side is giving it their all and his focus remains on helping the youngsters. Pakistan dropped Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam earlier for the T20I series against New Zealand.
“We are giving our best and focusing on building the team. As seniors, we are motivating the youngsters and how to go about things in international cricket,” Rauf said.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s openers went on a six-hitting blitz to thrash Pakistan by five wickets and go 2-0 up in their T20I series.
The home team reached 137/5 with 11 deliveries to spare in Dunedin to take control of the five-match series after Pakistan posted 135/9 off 15 overs in a rain-reduced second game.
New Zealand’s highlight was a ferocious opening partnership between Tim Seifert and Finn Allen in which seven of the first eight scoring shots were sixes.
Seifert played out a maiden off Shaheen Afridi’s opening over before Allen cleared the small University Oval boundary thrice in the second over, bowled by Mohammad Ali.
