Haris Rauf Accused Of Ball-Tampering In T20 World Cup Clash Against USA

Haris Rauf has been accused of ball tampering during Pakistan's first match of the T20 World Cup 2024 against the USA in Dallas on Thursday, June 6. Former South Africa pacer Rusty Theron, who later played for the USA, tagged the ICC on X (formerly known as Twitter) while making the accusation.

Moments after Haris Rauf clean bowled USA number three Andries Gous in the 15th over, Rusty Theron took to X to suggest that the speedster was using his nails to tamper with the ball to make it suitable for reverse swing.

Theron, who is not part of the USA squad, also pointed out that the ball was reverse swinging despite being changed just ahead of the 13th over. The 38-year-old pacer also criticised the ICC for allegedly ignoring the incident.

"@ICC are we just going to pretend Pakistan aren't scratching the hell out of this freshly changed ball? Reversing the ball that's just been changed 2 overs ago? You can literally see Haris Rauf running his thumbnail over the ball at the top of his mark. @usacricket #PakvsUSA," Theron wrote on 'X'.

Co-hosts USA stunned Pakistan by beating the 2009 champions via a Super Over on Thursday, marking the first upset of T20 World Cup 2024. Rauf was Pakistan's most expensive pacer, conceding 37 runs in four overs. USA lost just three wickets in the match as they equalled Pakistan's 159/7 in 20 overs.

Eleven runs were needed from the last two deliveries when Haris got hit for a six and then a four on the final delivery of the 20th over. Later, Mohammad Amir, who gave away just 25 runs in four overs, conceded 18 runs in the Super Over. Pakistan could only collect 13 runs.

Pakistan will next be in action against India at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Sunday, June 9.