Mohammad Hafeez: “I believe Haris Rauf is currently the best pacer in Pakistan in white-ball cricket”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez believes Haris Rauf is currently the best fast bowler in the country when it comes to white-ball cricket.
Rauf has been in sublime form in Pakistan’s last few limited overs series as he took 10 wickets in three ODIs against Australia, which included a five-wicket haul, at an average of 12.
He followed it up with five wickets in three T20Is at an average of 15.40.
After this, Rauf travelled to Zimbabwe with the men in green and started off with three wickets in three ODIs at an average of 32.
In the three-match T20I series, the 31-year-old finished with three wickets in two games at an average of 10.
Unfortunately, Rauf didn’t have much luck in the T20Is and ODIs against South Africa as he went wicketless in both series.
Despite this little setback, Hafeez still holds the express bowler in very high regard.
“I believe Haris Rauf is currently the best pacer in Pakistan in white-ball cricket,” he was quoted as saying on X, formerly known as Twitter.
After the South Africa series, Rauf played domestic cricket in Pakistan as he represented Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited in the President’s Trophy Grade-I competition.
In the two games he played, he picked up six wickets in two matches at an average of 25.50.
Rauf was not selected for Pakistan’s recent two-Test series against the West Indies, which ended as a 1-1 draw.
However, he was selected for the ongoing ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, where he has claimed one wicket so far.
Following the tri-series, Rauf and the rest of the Pakistan team will feature in the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will take place from February 19 to March 9.
Pakistan Squad for 2025 Champions Trophy: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah