The Pakistan cricket team is no stranger to moments of controversy, often involving the conduct of its players. From altercations with opposing players to confrontations with fans, and even internal team conflicts, such incidents are a part of the team’s history. Pakistani players can be prone to displays of anger, regardless of their own errors. A recent example of this was seen in Pakistani wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Haris, who, after failing to score runs, responded by smashing his bat on the field.
Haris was selected to play in a T20 series held in the UAE, a preparation for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. Despite his recent struggles, the team’s management kept faith in him, providing opportunities in the opening two matches of the tri-series. Unfortunately, his performance in both matches was lackluster. Against Afghanistan, he scored only 15 runs from 13 balls, and against the UAE, he was out after scoring a single run from two balls.
In a Sharjah match on August 30, Haris was quickly dismissed by UAE’s Junaid Siddiqui. After attempting a shot to the third man, he was caught by a fielder. The resulting frustration was immediately taken out on his bat, which was slammed to the ground, breaking it. The incident was widely shared on social media, drawing significant criticism. Haris has had a poor run, accumulating only 37 runs from 42 balls in his last eight innings.