A moment involving Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf has gone viral on social media as Lahore Qalandars fans loudly booed Rauf ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 season. Shaheen asked the crowd if Rauf should be elected, and received an emphatic response that stunned many.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has made several important changes for the next season of the PSL, including the addition of two new teams, Hyderabad and Sialkot. Notably, the tournament will once again overlap with the Indian Premier League (IPL), as the T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place in February.
Lahore Qalandars fans publicly reject Haris Rauf after Shaheen Afridi’s question
At a Lahore Qalandars fan event, Shaheen Afridi asked the crowd if Haris Rauf should be selected for the team in the Pakistan Super League.
The reaction was immediate and swift, with fans shouting “No” in unison. The moment immediately gained attention on social media, as the crowd’s rejection of Rauf was seen as a public humiliation.
Shaheen: Should we pick Rauf in LQ or not?
Fan: No.
pic.twitter.com/Cfqv92rads– Sherry. (@CallMeSheri1_) 15 January 2026
Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf dropped from Pakistan team
Pakistan recently played a three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka as part of their preparations for the T20 World Cup 2026. This series was important as Pakistan would play all its World Cup matches in Sri Lanka.
Many senior players were not included in Pakistan’s 15-member team for this series. Former captain Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan were not part of the team.
The players are involved in the Big Bash League, for which the Pakistan Cricket Board had issued a no objection certificate before finalizing the T20I schedule. Babar is representing Sydney Sixers, Shaheen is representing Brisbane Heat, Haris Rauf is representing Melbourne Stars and Rizwan is representing Melbourne Renegades.
However, Shaheen Afridi has been ruled out of the BBL due to a knee injury. Meanwhile, Babar and Rizwan are still searching for form after modest performances in recent matches.
Haris Rauf’s T20I form under scrutiny ahead of 2026 World Cup
Haris Rauf last played T20I cricket for Pakistan in September 2025 during the Asia Cup in UAE. Since then, he has missed Pakistan’s home series against South Africa and the entire tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Rauf remains in the Pakistan Cricket Board’s plans for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. However, his recent performance has raised concerns, as his current impact does not match his reputation.
Rauf made his international debut in January 2020 against Bangladesh in Lahore. In his first year, he played 11 T20Is and took 16 wickets at an economy rate of 8.65. Over the next two years, which included the T20 World Cups in the UAE and Australia, he took 56 wickets.
However, his form has declined rapidly in the last two years. During this period, he conceded more than nine runs per over and failed to make a decisive impact in major tournaments like the T20 World Cup and Asia Cup.
Also read: Pakistan women’s team announced for South Africa ODI and T20 tour; Captaincy to Fatima Sana
