Wasim Akram: “He’s unfortunately a run machine as a bowler, and especially against India. I’m not criticising him. The whole country’s criticising him”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Legendary left-arm seamer Wasim Akram has blasted fast bowler Haris Rauf for leaking too many runs when bowling.
Rauf is one of the quickest bowlers in the country as he has bowled over 150 kph in the past.
However, Wasim believes that doesn’t justify the large number of runs he concedes on a regular basis.
The Sultan of Swing added that he is not the only one lambasting the 31-year-old as “the whole country’s criticising him.”
“He’s unfortunately a run machine as a bowler, and especially against India. I’m not criticising him. The whole country’s criticising him,” he said on Sony Sports as quoted by NDTV.
Rauf recently played in the 2025 Asia Cup, where he took nine wickets in five matches at an average of 18.33 and an economy rate of nine.
Pakistan are now taking on South Africa, but Rauf missed both the Test and T20I series.
He has not played in the ongoing ODI series either, which is tied at 1-1 going into the 3rd ODI on November 8 in Faisalabad.
Following the South Africa series, Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series from November 11 to 15, before joining a T20I tri-series with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from November 17 to 29.
Pakistan squad for South Africa ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem