Tag: Haris Rauf

Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf has revealed his pick among the international cricket formats to help ease the increasingly packed international cricket schedule.

A few months earlier, the pacer expressed a desire to play in the longest format of the game for Pakistan amid scrutiny around his reluctance to play Test cricket.

The notion of his reluctance in playing Test matches has persisted since he withdrew from the 2023 Australia series due to concerns about fitness and workload management.

Following his withdrawal, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) terminated his central contract in February 2024, thereby disallowing him from participating in any overseas league.

Haris Rauf has made only one appearance for Pakistan in Test matches, playing against England in Rawalpindi in 2022. However, he was injured just after bowling 13 overs in the first innings. Since then, he has not been part of Pakistan’s red ball plans.

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Now, Haris Rauf has revealed that he wants to be dropped from the international calendar to manage his schedule.

“I would drop the Test format,” he said with a smile when asked about which version of the game he would remove to ease the cricket calendar.

The right-arm pacer also outlined his future goals for the Pakistan team in the next decade, stating, “I want to win at least two ICC events in the next 10 years.”

For the unversed, Haris Rauf is out of Pakistan’s upcoming tour of Bangladesh. The pacer is set to undergo rehab after sustaining an injury during the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC) held in the United States of America (USA).

He was the second-highest taker in the tournament before an injury ruled him out of the Playoffs of the tournament. Playing for the San Francisco Unicorns, he picked up 17 wickets at an impressive average of 15.05 in eight innings.

READ: Haris Rauf reveals the greatest cricketer of last 25 years

Pakistan speedster Haris Rauf has named former South Africa star pacer Dale Steyn as the greatest cricketer seen in the last 25 years.

Haris, the second-highest wicket-taker in the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC), featured in a recent interview on a sports platform, where he shed light on various aspects of his cricketing career.

During the interview, he heaped high praise on Dale Steyn, calling him the greatest cricketer.

“Dale Steyn,” Haris Rauf replied when he was asked about the greatest cricketer in the last 25 years.

The 31-year-old revealed his most memorable match in his cricketing career, highlighting the intensity of India-Pakistan matches.

“The 2021 World Cup, because I was playing in my first ICC event, and there was a lot of excitement about it,” he revealed.

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“To play the first match against India and win it was very special. The kind of pressure there was because I have heard that India-Pakistan matches are very high-pressure games, and no doubt I felt that,” he recalled.

Haris Rauf called the One Day International (ODI) World Cup the most significant event in cricket today. He also emphasized the role of social media in cricketers’ lives nowadays, when asked about one thing he wished for the cricketers of the past.

“The ODI World Cup is the greatest event. I wish there was no social media because it was nowhere in the past, and players could come and go as they pleased and express their thoughts. Now, if you step out, there are ten videos made of you,” he said.

For the unversed, Haris Rauf made his T20I debut for Pakistan against Bangladesh in 2020 and has claimed 119 wickets in 85 matches. The pacer, hailing from Rawalpindi, has also played a Test and 50 ODIs.

READ: Kane Williamson hails Virat Kohli as ‘greatest all-format player’

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 15-member squad, excluding pacer Haris Rauf, for the forthcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence on July 20.

Salman Ali Agha will lead the T20I side, while vice-captain Shadab Khan and pacer Haris Rauf have been ruled out due to injuries.

The squad for the white-ball series against West Indies will be announced in due course.

Fast bowler Haris Rauf is not part of the squad due to an injury he sustained during the Major League Cricket (MLC) match. The right-arm pacer has suffered a Grade 1 hamstring injury during the San Francisco Unicorns’ clash against the Texas Super Kings.

Meanwhile, Shadab Khan had successful shoulder surgery in the UK to address ongoing issues with his right shoulder. The procedure was carried out effectively, bringing relief from the discomfort he had been experiencing for some time.

Among the notable inclusions are left-arm pacer Salman Mirza and Sufiyan Moqim.

Sufiyan has made a return to the side after featuring in the New Zealand tour while Salman has earned his maiden call up for the national team following impressive performances in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10.

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The opening match is scheduled for July 20, followed by the second T20I on July 22 and the third on July 24.

After wrapping up the Bangladesh tour, the Green Shirts will travel to the United States of America (USA) to face the West Indies in a three-match T20I series in Florida, set to take place from August 1 to 4.

Both sides will then head to Trinidad and Tobago for a three-match ODI series scheduled between August 8 and 12.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to announce the final T20I and ODI squads for both assignments in the coming days.

Pakistan squad for Bangladesh series:

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza and Sufyan Moqim

Team management:

Naveed Akram Cheema (manager), Mike Hesson (head coach), Ashley Noffke (bowling coach), Muhammad Hanif Malik (batting Coach), Shane McDermott (fielding Coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Grant Luden (strength and conditioning coach), Talha Ejaz (analyst), Syed Naeem Ahmad (media manager), Irtaza Komail (security manager), Dr. Wajid Ali Rafai (doctor) and Muhammad Ehsan (masseur)

Pakistan tour of Bangladesh schedule

1st T20I – July 20, Dhaka

2nd T20I – July 22, Dhaka

3rd T20I – July 24, Dhaka

READ: Ihsanullah clarifies emotional comments on cricket future amid backlash

Pakistan pace spearhead Haris Rauf is likely to miss the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh later this month after sustaining a hamstring injury during the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025.

Rauf, who has been in red-hot form for the San Francisco Unicorns, picked up a Grade 1 hamstring strain during his side’s victory over Texas Super Kings and was subsequently ruled out of the remainder of the tournament.

The franchise confirmed the development on social media, stating:

“We’re with you, Haris. The San Francisco Unicorns can confirm Haris Rauf will miss the remainder of #MLC2025 with a hamstring injury, with New Zealand pace bowler Ben Lister to replace him, effective immediately.”

The 31-year-old currently tops the MLC 2025 wicket charts with 17 scalps in just eight matches, maintaining an economy rate of 9.08.

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His injury comes as a major blow for Pakistan ahead of the three-match T20I series against the Bengal Tigers.

While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to issue an official update on Rauf’s injury status or expected recovery timeline, it is understood that he is unlikely to recover in time for the series, which begins on July 20 in Dhaka.

The national team is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on July 16, with the second and third T20Is set for July 22 and 24, respectively, all matches to be played at the Shere-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Following the Bangladesh tour, the Men in Green will head to the West Indies for a white-ball series in August, comprising three ODIs and three T20Is.

READ: England likely to recall THESE two pacers after heavy defeat against India

Melbourne Stars General Manager Max Abbott has made it clear that retaining Haris Rauf for BBL Season 15 was a top priority, revealing that the franchise fended off strong interest from rival teams to keep the Pakistani speedster on their roster.

In a candid statement following the BBL 15 overseas draft, Abbott confirmed that Adelaide Strikers had targeted Rauf but were forced to back off after the Stars refused to release him.

“Haris Rauf is a fan favourite and a valuable asset to our team,” Abbott said. “We knew other teams were interested in him, but we weren’t willing to let him go.”

Abbott lauded Rauf’s impact beyond the field, calling him a key figure in the dressing room and a role model for younger bowlers.

“He’s not just a match-winner. He’s someone other bowlers learn from. That’s why keeping him was non-negotiable for us,” he stated.

But all eyes are now on the mouth-watering clash against the Sydney Sixers, who have signed Babar Azam as a pre-draft marquee pick. Abbott didn’t shy away from the hype surrounding the Pakistan stars’ face-off.

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“We’re excited to see Haris Rauf take on Babar at the MCG. I’m sure he has a few plans up his sleeve to exploit Babar’s weaknesses,” said Abbott.

He also acknowledged the influence of the Pakistani community in Melbourne, calling Rauf’s popularity a big plus for the team’s fan engagement.

“The Pakistan community is huge here, and it’s great to have their favourite player in the Stars colours. He brings excitement and pride with every appearance.”

Haris Rauf, who is currently featuring in MLC 2025 for the San Francisco Unicorns, has been with the Stars since 2019.

In 22 BBL matches, he has bagged 36 wickets at an economy of 7.75, and remains one of the most dangerous bowlers at the death.

Rauf’s retention comes amid a strong Pakistan presence in BBL 15, with Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan and Hasan Ali all picked up by various franchises during the draft.

READ: Three Pakistani players join Rangpur Riders for Global Super League 2025

OAKLAND: Jake Fraser-McGurk’s blistering knock, followed by Haris Rauf’s all-round brilliance, steered San Francisco Unicorns to their second straight win in the third match of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 at the Oakland Coliseum here on Sunday.

Los Angeles Knight Riders skipper Sunil Narine won the toss and opted to field first.

San Francisco Unicorns had a poor start as they lost their opener, Tim Seifert (5), only in the second over.

However, following the early, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Finn Allen put on a sublime 121-run stand. The partnership brought the score to 126 in only 10.2 overs.

Fraser-McGurk was the core aggressor while Allen smashed his second fifty in the process. He was dismissed after scoring 52 off 27 deliveries, hitting four sixes and five fours.

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The wicket did not halt Unicorns’ momentum as they continued the scoring with high impetus. Sanjay Krishnamurthi (12) was the next batter to be removed on the fourth ball of the 12th over as the scorecard read 141-3.

Jake Fraser-McGurk added another brief 26-run partnership with Cooper Connolly before being removed after scoring a sublime 88 off 38 balls. His knock featured 11 sixes and two fours.

Los Angeles Knight Riders bowlers were kept at bay until the 17th over, where they struck twice, reducing San Francisco Unicorns to 189-7.

However, Haris Rauf’s cameo of 16 runs with the help of a six and two boundaries helped the team finish strong at the back end of the innings as Unicorns scored 219 for the loss of eight wickets in their allocated 20 overs.

For the Los Angeles Knight Riders, Shadley van Schalkwyk was the standout bowler, taking three wickets in his four overs.

In reply to a daunting total, Knight Riders were bowled out for 187 on the second last ball of the penultimate over, which handed Unicorns a resounding 32-run win.

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The Knight Riders lost both of their openers early inside the first three overs. Alex Hales (6) was the first one to go, holing out to deep square leg while Andre Fletcher’s 19-run innings came to an end in Bartlett’s over, reducing them to 33-2.

However, Unmukt Chand smashed 18-runs of Haris Rauf’s over, bringing the score to 57-2 in five overs. The partnership of 46 runs between Nitish Kumar and Unmukt Chand appeared to be quite dangerous, but Hasan Khan ended their stand by taking Nitish Kumar’s wicket with a catch-and-bowl.

The game was evenly poised at the halfway mark of the innings, but Haris Rauf’s double-wicket over in which he removed Chand and Andre Russell tilted the match Unicorns’ way.

Unmukt Chand top-scored with 53 off 32 deliveries with the aid of four sixes and the same number of fours.

With five wickets lost and 107 runs required from just 42 balls, the target proved to be too challenging for the team.

For San Francisco Unicorns, Haris Rauf and Xavier Bartlett starred with the ball, taking four wickets each, which ensured that they remain top of the table in MLC 2025.

READ: Kyle Verreynne reveals raw emotions after hitting winning runs in WTC Final

DUBAI: Pakistan pacers Haris Rauf and Abbas Afridi have made notable strides in the latest ICC Men’s T20I Bowling Rankings, released on Wednesday.

Pakistan recently whitewashed Bangladesh 3-0 in the home T20I series, marking a successful start to Mike Hesson’s tenure as their white-ball head coach.

Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was not part of the series, inched up in the T20I Bowling Rankings, now ranked 35th with 552 points.

Meanwhile, T20I vice-captain Shadab Khan and leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed are now levelled on 476 points, sharing the 58th spot.

On the other hand, pace duo Haris Rauf and Abbas Afridi have both broken into the top 20, sitting jointly at 18th position with 605 rating points each.

However, Naseem Shah and Sufiyan Muqeem dropped down the order, now placed at 92nd and 95th, respectively, with 407 and 406 points.

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At the top of the T20I bowling charts, New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy leads the pack, followed by England’s Adil Rashid in second. India’s Varun Chakaravarthy, who previously held the No.2 spot, now sits third.

In the batting rankings, Pakistan’s experienced top-order duo Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have maintained their positions, ranked 12th and 13th, respectively. Mohammad Haris, too, continues to hold on to the 30th spot.

However, emerging talent Hasan Nawaz has dropped to 46th, while left-hander Saim Ayub now finds himself at 62nd.

Meanwhile, Fakhar Zaman has moved down one place to 87th and Pakistan’s T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has dropped two spots to 76th with 430 rating points

Australia’s Travis Head remains the top-ranked T20I batter, with India’s Abhishek Sharma climbing to second.

England’s Phil Salt, who previously held the runner-up spot, has dropped to fourth as Indian youngster Tilak Varma jumps to third.

READ: West Indies announce Test squad for Australia series

Pakistan’s tearaway quick Haris Rauf is all set to light up the American cricket scene once again, as he officially signs with the San Francisco Unicorns for the upcoming 2025 season of Major League Cricket (MLC).

The franchise confirmed Rauf’s return with a fiery post on social media, captioned: “HARIS HAS ARRIVED 🔥💪 Our superstar pace bowler is back.”

Despite a forgettable 2024 campaign, where he picked up just four wickets in nine games, averaging 73.50 with an economy of 9.09, the Unicorns have decided to back the 31-year-old speedster for another season.

Haris Rauf, who has plied his trade in top-tier leagues like the Big Bash League (BBL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), and The Hundred, now heads into his third consecutive MLC season.

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With cricket steadily finding its feet in the United States, Rauf’s presence adds star power to a league that’s still in its growth phase but generating plenty of buzz.

The San Francisco Unicorns, a franchise based in California and backed by a passionate South Asian community, have been proactive in building a competitive squad through high-profile signings, and Rauf’s pace will be key to their ambitions this year.

The 2025 edition of Major League Cricket kicks off on June 13, with the final scheduled for July 14.

READ: Sana Mir becomes first Pakistani woman cricketer inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Lahore Qalandars’ fast bowler Haris Rauf hailed Shaheen Afridi for his captaincy, deeming it a crucial factor behind the team’s success in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

During an interview with a social media platform, Haris lauded Shaheen Afridi’s leadership, mentioning his fairness as a standout trait of his captaincy.

“He does not show favoritism. On the field, he thinks and acts like a true captain,” Rauf explained.

Rauf credited Shaheen Afridi for Lahore Qalandars’ title-winning campaigns, highlighting his exceptional leadership.

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“Afridi’s captaincy has been outstanding — there is no doubt about that. He led us to two titles, and his role has been crucial in our success,” Rauf said.

The 31-year-old also shed light on Shaheen Afridi’s nature on the field as a captain.

“He may look aggressive during matches, but off the field, he is very composed and always there for the team,” he said.

Haris Rauf stated that when players have faith in their captain, it motivates them to give their best effort.

“When you believe in your captain, you want to give your best. I try to stick to his plans to help the team win,” he concluded.

The Rawalpindi-born fast bowler reflected on his PSL 10 performance, stating that he is not satisfied with his performance in the ongoing tournament.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

“To be honest, I am not yet satisfied with my performance in PSL, nor have I been able to meet the team’s expectations or my personal goals. However, I am constantly trying to figure out how to improve and live up to the team’s expectations,” the pacer remarked.

While looking ahead to the crucial matches for Qalandars, Haris Rauf said, “I’m working on improving my bowling speed because the upcoming matches are going to be very important.”

“I am working on improving my bowling speed because the upcoming matches are going to be very important,” he concluded.

READ: Former all-rounder eyes Pakistan head coach role

Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf has welcomed the ICC’s proposal to use a single ball in ODIs after the 25-over mark, calling it a “lifeline” for pacers who have long struggled in an increasingly batter-dominated game.

Speaking to a local news channel, Rauf pointed out how the modern white ball hardly ages enough to offer any real help to bowlers.

“When the ball gets older after 25 overs, it helps the bowlers, just like it used to in the past. Now, the ball hardly gets old and everyone thinks of scoring 400-plus runs,” he said.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

He believes the move to allow the ball to get genuinely old again could revive reverse swing — something that has been missing from ODIs for a while.

“If ICC is considering using one ball after 25 overs, it is a good move because with an old ball, reverse swing is possible,” Haris Rauf added.

The 31-year-old was candid when it came to addressing the heat Pakistan’s bowlers often face from critics. He reminded everyone that high run-rates and short boundaries aren’t a problem unique to Pakistan — it’s a global trend.

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“It feels like only Pakistan’s bowlers concede runs, but fast bowlers all around the world are struggling due to short boundaries and demand for high-scoring games,” he pointed out.

Speaking about his PSL 10 form with Lahore Qalandars, Haris Rauf admitted he hasn’t been at his best. But the pacer isn’t letting a few rough games shake his confidence.

“In T20s, it depends on the day. Sometimes you bowl well but still get hit. I never doubt my skills. If you have one good day, expect two or three bad ones too,” he said.

READ: Fawad Alam calls Mohammad Amir one of the smartest bowlers in Pakistan