Haris Rauf: “Obviously, both Saim and Fakhar were our in-form batsmen, and their absence has led to several changes, including adjustments in the batting line-up”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf admitted it is tough not having openers Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman in the team right now as they were the “in-form batsmen”.
Ayub is currently out of action with a fractured ankle, but had been in sublime form prior to his injury as he racked up three ODI centuries and a career-best 98 not out in T20Is. All these big knocks came during Pakistan’s tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Zaman made his international comeback in the ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, and made 135 runs in three games, which included a top score of 84, at an average of 45 and a strike-rate of 120.53.
He then featured in the 2025 Champions Trophy and scored 24 runs in the opening game against New Zealand before being ruled out for the remainder of the tournament with an oblique injury.
Pakistan are now touring New Zealand and are without Ayub and Zaman, which Rauf admitted has disrupted the team combination.
“Obviously, both Saim and Fakhar were our in-form batsmen, and their absence has led to several changes, including adjustments in the batting line-up. The combination we were building has been disrupted, but we have other batsmen who can step up and perform well to cover for it,” he was quoted as saying by Geo Super.
Pakistan were beaten 4-1 in the T20I series against New Zealand.
In the four games he featured in, Rauf took eight wickets at an average of 12.25.
Pakistan and New Zealand are now playing a three-match ODI series, which began on March 29 in Napier.
Pakistan Squad for T20I Series against New Zealand: Hasan Nawaz, Omair Yousuf, Mohammad Haris, Abdul Samad, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Irfan Khan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Khan
Pakistan Squad for ODI Series against New Zealand: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Khan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir