Haris Rauf Archives

Rauf among 14 Pakistan players in The Hundred auction

LONDON: Pacer Haris Rauf has been named a ‘marquee player’ in The Hundred inaugural auction, one of 14 Pakistani players on the list.

The list revealed on The Hundred’s official website features 14 Pakistan players, including Rauf.

“The longlist for The Hundred Auction have been revealed, with the likes of Joe Root, Davina Perrin, Nadine de Klerk and Shaheen Shah Afridi set to go under the hammer at Piccadilly Lights on 11 and 12 March,” the press release wrote.

“With nearly 1,000 players registering themselves for consideration for the Auction, the eight men’s and women’s teams were required to nominate up to 100 players they’d be interested in purchasing. Any player with at least one nomination has been included on the longlists,” it added.

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Two weeks earlier, the BBC reported that the four Indian-owned franchises of the eight-team competition, Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave, and Sunrisers Leeds, were not considering Pakistani players for next month’s auction.

However, last week the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) issued a statement reaffirming, stating that The Hundred is an inclusive competition, open to all players.

“All eight teams commit to selection being based solely on cricketing performance, availability, and the needs of each team,” the statement read.

Besides Rauf, other prominent players on the men’s longlist include pacers Shaheen Afridi, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, and Usman Tariq.

For the unversed, the Hundred will be played from July 21 to August 16, 2026.

Men’s Hundred Pakistan players

Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Tariq, Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Zaman Khan, Imad Wasim, Usama Mir, Akif Javed, Salman Mirza

Women’s Hundred Pakistan players

Fatima Sana, Sadia Iqbal.

READ: Pakistan reach FIH Hockey World Cup qualifiers semi-final

PSL 11 auction: Base prices of Haris Rauf, Amir, Rizwan revealed

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced the base prices of players registered for the highly anticipated Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11 player auction.

The landmark auction is scheduled to take place on February 11, with a total of 879 local and overseas cricketers from across the cricketing world signing up.

The pool includes players from Afghanistan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, England and Sri Lanka, with base prices ranging from PKR 60 lakh to PKR 4.2 crore.

Several high-profile international stars have entered the top base price bracket of PKR 4.2 crore.

The list features Afghanistan’s Fazal Haq Farooqi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Australia’s David Warner, and New Zealand all-rounders Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell.

South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw, England’s James Vince and Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka have also placed themselves in the highest category.

Among Pakistan players, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Amir, Haris Rauf, Fakhar Zaman and Faheem Ashraf headline the top-tier bracket, underlining the strong local presence in the auction.

The second-highest base price category begins at PKR 2.2 crore and includes notable names such as Australia’s Usman Khawaja and Peter Siddle, New Zealand’s Colin Munro, England’s Jason Roy and South Africa veteran Imran Tahir.

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Pakistan representatives in this category include Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Saud Shakeel and Shan Masood.

You can find the complete list of players along with their base prices by clicking here.

Under the new auction model, each franchise has been allocated a purse of PKR 450 million to build their squads, along with an additional PKR 55 million reserved for direct signings.

All franchises, including the newly-added Hyderabad and Sialkot Stallionz, have already confirmed their retentions and direct signings ahead of the auction.

However, Peshawar Zalmi were dealt a setback after their direct signing Rahmanullah Gurbaz withdrew from the upcoming season.

Meanwhile, Multan Sultans remain in a unique position heading into the auction. The franchise, currently without an owner, will enter the bidding process with a full purse after retaining no players and making no direct signings.

Notably, the Multan franchise is scheduled to be sold through a separate auction in Lahore on February 9, just two days before the PSL 11 player auction.

READ: ICC delegation to meet Mohsin Naqvi to break India-Pakistan deadlock: sources

Finch, Clarke stunned over Haris Rauf’s exclusion from Pakistan T20I squad

Former Australian captains Aaron Finch and Michael Clarke have expressed surprise over the exclusion of Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf from the squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Rauf was one of the standout performers in the recently concluded Big Bash League (BBL) season 15 for the Melbourne Stars, finishing as the highest wicket-taker with 20 wickets in 11 matches, averaging 16.75.

However, the right-arm speedster failed to make Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad for the mega event, scheduled to be played in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.

During a recent discussion on a local sports platform, Finch admitted he was taken aback when he saw Rauf’s name missing from the squad, stressing that T20 cricket often comes down to match-winning “impact” players.

“Yeah, I thought… I was really surprised when I saw that he wasn’t in the squad. I thought he brings that X-factor,” Finch said.

The former Australia opener further explained that even if a bowler can be expensive at times, having someone who can take wickets in every phase of the innings is a massive asset in the shortest format.

“Yes, he can be costly at times, but when you’ve got a genuine wicket-taker in all three phases of the game, that is the most important thing for me in T20 cricket, finding a way to get wickets, particularly on some flat surfaces as well. So, yeah, I was really surprised by that,” he added.

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Meanwhile, Michael Clarke also admitted the decision was unexpected but suggested the omission likely reflects Pakistan’s selection approach, prioritising conditions and specific roles over performances in overseas domestic leagues.

“Surprised, but again, it’s another indication that playing in Australia is very different from playing in Sri Lanka and India,” Clarke said.

“You pick your squad for conditions, for the role you’re going to play in that team. So they obviously don’t see him playing a role like he did in the BBL.”

However, Clarke also pointed out that current form and momentum should still matter when finalising squads for ICC events.

“But I think form is important as well. When you’re picking a World Cup squad, you’d rather have players going into the tournament with some cricket and good form under their belt. So let’s see what happens,” he added.

Notably, Haris Rauf last played a T20I for Pakistan in the Asia Cup final against India on September 28, 2025, where he endured a tough outing, conceding 50 runs in 3.4 overs while defending a target of 146.

Since then, the pacer has remained out of the T20I setup, having been excluded from Pakistan’s squads for the away series against Sri Lanka, the upcoming home series against Australia, and now the T20 World Cup 2026 as well.

READ: Hesson reveals reason behind Haris Rauf’s T20 World Cup exclusion

Hesson reveals reason behind Haris Rauf’s T20 World Cup exclusion

LAHORE: Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has revealed that conditions played a major role behind Haris Rauf omission from the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 squad.

While addressing the media on the occasion of the team announcement, Hesson revealed that Pakistan’s decision to take only three specialist seamers for World Cup were due to Sri Lanka conditions.

“When we decided to only take three seamers in Sri Lanka, there were obviously going to be some key seamers,” Hesson told reporters.

The head coach furhter elaborated that Haris Rauf was in contention but ultimately missed out due to limited slots.

“Wasim Jr, Ahmed Daniyal and Haris Rauf were certainly considered, but unfortunately there’s no spot. The three that are going — Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Salman Mirza — can all bowl in all three phases of the game, which is really important when you’re potentially going to play two in Sri Lanka,” he explained.

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Hesson mentioned the previous editions of the World Cup where conditions allowed an extra seamer, noting that Faheem Ahsraf provides an all-round option incase if a third pacer is required.

“In previous World Cups and previously, we have always taken an extra seamer there because conditions have dictated that, whereas in this situation we haven’t gone down that path,” he stated.

“We have only picked three frontline seamers, with Faheem Ashraf as the all-rounder if we decide to play three, so that was pretty straightforward, and some very good players missed out,” Hesson revealed.

For those unwared, Rauf’s last appearance for Pakistan in T20I cricket came during the Asia Cup final against India on September 28, 2025, a match in which he struggled, conceding 50 runs in 3.4 overs while defending 146.

The performance raised questions about his ability to handle pressure in big moments, and he has not featured in the national T20I team since.

He was also left out of the T20I squads for the away series against Sri Lanka and the upcoming home series against Australia.

Earlier, Pakistan revealed the squad for T20 World Cup 2026 with skipper Salman Ali Agha set to lead the side.

Pakistan T20 World Cup Squad

Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (WK), and Usman Tariq.

READ: Mohsin Naqvi breaks silence on Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 participation

Haris Rauf breaks silence on his exclusion from Pakistan T20I squad

Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf has finally addressed the growing speculation surrounding his potential omission from the T20 World Cup 2026 squad, insisting that missing out would be disappointing but not the end of his career.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has yet to announce the final squad for the global event, but several reports have suggested that Rauf may be left out.

Rumours have also circulated that white-ball head coach Mike Hesson is not in favour of the pacer’s inclusion.

Rauf’s last appearance for Pakistan in T20I cricket came during the Asia Cup final against India on September 28, 2025, a match in which he struggled, conceding 50 runs in 3.4 overs while defending 146.

The performance raised questions about his ability to handle pressure in big moments, and he has not featured in the national T20I team since.

He was left out of the T20I squads for the away series against Sri Lanka and the upcoming home series against Australia.

Speaking in a recent interview, Haris Rauf acknowledged the possibility of being overlooked but made it clear that he will not allow the setback to define his future.

“If I am not included in the T20 World Cup, it would be disappointing, but it will not be the end of my career,” he said.

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Rauf also reiterated his commitment to improving his game, emphasising that he remains focused on refining his bowling and delivering his best whenever given the chance.

“I will give my best performance and continue to work on my bowling,” he added.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his World Cup prospects, Rauf extended his support to the national team ahead of the tournament, expressing his best wishes for Pakistan’s campaign.

“I have good wishes for the national team in the T20 World Cup,” he said.

Rauf also opened up about the challenges of maintaining consistency at the international level, especially when bowling in the death overs.

“Whenever I played for Pakistan, I always gave 100%. Bowling in the death overs is not easy,” he said.

It’s worth noting that despite his exclusion from the national side, his form in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 15 has been impressive.

He currently leads the tournament’s wicket charts with 20 wickets in 11 matches for the Melbourne Stars.

READ: Babar, Shaheen back as Pakistan unveil squad for Australia T20Is

Hurricanes eliminate Haris Rauf’s Stars in rain-hit BBL 15 knockout

HOBART: Defending champions Hobart Hurricanes kept their hopes of consecutive titles alive with a thrilling win over Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 knockout.

Chasing 85 as per the DLS method in seven overs, the Stars fell short in the final over despite Hilton Cartwright giving them hope.

Melbourne Stars chase started on a shaky note with opener Thomas Rogers sent back in the second over. He made four from six balls.

After an early wicket, Joe Clarke and Sam Harper steadied the innings with a 36-run partnership. The pair brought the total to 41 in 4.3 overs with Clarke’s dismissal derailing the chase.

The right-hander made 31 off 17 with the help of four boundaries and a six. He was soon followed by Harper (10), who could not get going and was eventually retired out.

Nonetheless, with 26 required of Mitchell Owen’s final over, Marcus Stoinis tonked the first ball for a maximum, followed by a wide delivery.

Stoinis was bowled on the third ball, which brought Hilton Cartwright to the crease with the Stars requiring 19 from four.

With an uphill task to climb, Hilton Cartwright revived hopes by striking the next two balls for fours and then smashing a length ball for six, leaving the equation to five off the final ball.

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However, Owen held his nerve and fired in a wide yorker, from which Cartwright could manage only a single.

For Hobart Hurricanes, Riley Meredith picked up two wickets.

Earlier, put into bat first, Hurricanes racked up 114-5 in their allotted 10 overs.

Mitchell Owen was stumped in the first over for seven as Tim Ward and Beau Webster stabilized the innings with a brisk 30-run partnership.

Haris Rauf broke through for Stars with the wicket of Ward, who scored 10 from 10. The dismissal followed another quick wicket of skipper Ben McDermott, who departed for 12.

As a result, Hurricanes were reduced to 54-3 in 5.3 overs.

However, it was Beau Webster’s knock that held the innings together and laid a foundation for a winning total.

He was involved with a 37-run stand off 20 balls with Nikhil Chaudhary, which brought the total to 91 in 8.5 overs.

Chaudhary made 24 off 11 with the help of three sixes while Webster departed on the second last ball of the innings after top scoring with 47 from 27, striking three fours and three maximums.

For Melbourne Stars, Haris Rauf remained the standout bowler as he took two wickets.

READ: Daryl Mitchell dethrones Virat Kohli as No.1 ranked ODI batter

Star fast bowler unlikely to make Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad

Pakistan’s star fast bowler Haris Rauf is unlikely to be included in the national team’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, according to reliable sources.

According to sources, Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson is reportedly not keen on including Rauf in the squad for the mega-event, which is scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.

Rauf, who last played a T20I for Pakistan in the Asia Cup final against India on September 28, 2025, has been out of the national T20 setup since that game.

The 32-year-old endured a difficult outing in the high-pressure final, conceding 50 runs in 3.4 overs while defending 146, a performance that raised doubts about his ability to handle crucial moments on the biggest stage.

Despite his absence from recent T20 internationals, Rauf remains Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in the format, having claimed 133 wickets in 94 matches at an economy rate of 8.38.

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The fast bowler, however, has been in impressive rhythm in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) season 15, where he is currently the tournament’s leading wicket-taker.

Rauf has taken 18 wickets in 10 matches at an economy of 7.96 for Melbourne Stars, a strong reminder of his potential.

Still, reports suggest that Hesson is considering alternative pace options for the World Cup, possibly prioritising bowlers with more recent T20I experience and those who have demonstrated consistency under pressure.

Pakistan’s selection process has moved to the next stage, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reportedly having already submitted a preliminary squad list to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

However, the final squad announcement is expected in the coming days. PCB officials can make changes to the submitted list without ICC approval until January 31.

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WATCH: Bryant’s 48* brings down Rauf’s Stars in BBL 15

BRISBANE: Max Bryant’s 48* off 26 balls powered Brisbane Heat to a four-wicket victory over Melbourne Stars as pacer Haris Rauf failed to defend 10 in the final over in the 20th fixture of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15.

Heat chased down the stiff 196 on the fourth ball of the final over, losing six wickets in the process.

The win also ended Melbourne Stars’ winning streak and moved Heat to fourth on the points table.

Jack Wildermuth and Colin Munro added 18 for the opening wicket before both fell in a span of two overs, which reduced their side to 34-2 in 4.1 overs.

The former was caught for 15 while the latter could only add three to the total.

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After an early hiccup, skipper Nathan McSweeney and the leading run scorer of the tournament, Matt Renshaw, forged a 69-run partnership to put the chase back on track.

However, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Swepson removed both batters in back-to-back overs to dent the Heat’s progress. McSweeney departed for 43 while Renshaw hit four boundaries and a six in his 41 from 27 balls.

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Eventually, it was Xavier Bartlett’s and Max Bryant’s stand-off 66* that took them to a thrilling victory.

With 76 required of the last five, Bryant notably shifted the momentum in the Heat’s favour. He took Haris Rauf, Siddle, and Swepson to the cleaners, leaving the equation 10 required in the final over.

Haris bowled two decent first deliveries, which went for a single and a double, but Bryant hit a six and four to seal victory for his side.

For Melbourne Stars, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Swepson picked up two wickets each.

Earlier, sent in to bat first, Melbourne Stars racked up 195-6 at the end of their 20 overs, as skipper Marcus Stoinis led the way with a calculated knock.

Sam Harper (37) and Thomas Rogers (13) provided a strong start with a 52-run partnership before both of the batters were dismissed in quick succession.

After the double, Stoinis held the innings together with a string of partnerships that stabilized their innings. The skipper made 43 off 35 with the aid of five fours and a six.

But it was debutant Blake Macdonald’s whirlwind knock that propelled Stars to a strong total.

The right-hander hit 37* off just 12 balls, which included two sixes and four boundaries.

For Brisbane Heat, Thomas Balkin picked up two wickets.

READ: South Africa reveal squad for T20 World Cup 2026

BBL 15: Haris Rauf shines as undefeated Stars crush Thunder

CANBERRA: Haris Rauf continued his impressive run in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 as Melbourne Stars romped to a nine-wicket victory over Sydney Thunder in the 14th fixture of the tournament here at the Manuka Oval on Sunday.

Set a partly 129, Stars aced the chase inside 14 overs, losing only one wicket in the process.

Joe Clarke and Sam Harper came out firing all cylinders, adding 86 in 9.4 overs, which made the competition a one-sided affair.

Clarke remained the core aggressor, top scoring with 60 off 37 with the help of eight fours and a six.

Sam Harper unbeaten 29 off 27, including two fours, whereas Glenn Maxwell also got going with a quick-fire 39* from 20, striking five fours and two sixes.

For Sydney Thunder, Chris Green remained the solitary wicket-taker.

Earlier, Haris Rauf led bowling attack bundled out the Sydney Thunder for a modest 128 at the end of their 20 overs.

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After a decent start, Rauf removed Matthew Gilkes for 24 to give Stars an opening. The opener hit a six and two fours before getting caught.

Soon after, Sam Konstas was sent back as well after managing just 11 from 15 balls. The hiccup reduced them to 39-2 in 5.1 overs as veteran batter David Warner arrived at the crease in a bid to stabilize the innings.

Warner and Cameron Bancroft added only 16 before both were dismissed in quick succession to leave Thunder in disarray.

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As a result, Thunder were 63-4 in 9.5 overs before a brief partnership of 27 between Sam Billings and Shadab Khan took their score to near the 100-run mark.

However, Thunder had a similar plot: losing quick wickets in a short span of time that could get their innings going, and eventually the whole team was bundled out for a modest score.

Shadab remained the top scorer with 25 off 24 with the aid of two fours, whereas Sam Billings hit two fours and a six in his 23 from 19 balls.

For Melbourne Stars, Haris Rauf picked up three in his four overs, while Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, and Tom Curran were equally good with two wickets to their name.

With this, the Melbourne Stars extended their undefeated run, winning four out of four games, and are at the top of the points table.

READ: Haris Rauf lights up BBL 15 with fiery spell

WATCH: Animated Haris Rauf lights up BBL 15 with fiery spell

CANBERRA: Melbourne Stars pacer Haris Rauf delivered an animated and fiery performance, picking up a three-wicket haul against Sydney Thunder in the 14th match of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15.

Haris gave 29 in his four overs, picked up three wickets, and continued his impressive run in the tournament.

However, besides his crucial wickets, it was his celebration and appeal that stole the spotlight during his four-over spell.

The pacer first drew attention for faking a caught and bowled appeal, leaving commentators and fans amused.

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During the third over of Thunder’s innings, Haris dived in front in his follow-through to catch the ball.

His attempt and the confidence he showed immediately after taking the ball suggested it was a fair catch — though it was only the replay that showed the ball pitched in front of him.

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The official Big Bash League handle posted the video with a cheeky caption.

“Come on, Raufy!”. Haris Rauf had the commentary box laughing after this incident in Canberra. #BBL15,” the caption wrote.

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Later on, the pacer took the prized wicket of Sam Billings in the 14th over to lift Stars, and Rauf uniquely celebrated the dismissal.

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The right-arm pacer’s three-wicket spell played a crucial role in bundling out Sydney Thunder for a modest 128-run total at the end of their 20 overs.

Overall, the pacer is in red-hot form and is the joint-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with Tom Curran. He has so far nine scalps to his name in four matches.

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