(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Pakistan Suffers Major Blow as Haris Rauf Set to Miss Tours of Bangladesh and West Indies
Pakistan’s preparations for their upcoming cricket tours of Bangladesh and the West Indies have hit a major roadblock, with star fast bowler Haris Rauf reportedly ruled out due to injury.
According to reports, Haris Rauf sustained a hamstring injury while playing for the San Francisco Unicorns in the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC) season. The injury occurred during a match against the Texas Super Kings, where Rauf managed to bowl just one over before walking off the field.
Medical scans have since confirmed that the pace ace will need several weeks of rehabilitation, effectively ruling him out of Pakistan’s twin away series this month.
While the San Francisco Unicorns have moved swiftly to replace him with New Zealand’s Ben Lister, the real challenge lies with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Haris Rauf was expected to lead Pakistan’s fast-bowling attack, especially in the T20 format, where his raw pace and death-over skills have made him an indispensable asset.
Despite playing fewer games in the current MLC season, Rauf was among the top wicket-takers, tied at 17 wickets with teammate Xavier Bartlett. His form had been encouraging, suggesting a strong comeback ahead of Pakistan’s packed international calendar.
The injury comes at a critical time, as the PCB is finalizing squads for the Asia Cup 2025 and next year’s ICC T20 World Cup. With Haris Rauf out, selectors are likely to rely on less experienced fast bowlers, as the squad announcement is expected later today.
These tours are considered vital for building team chemistry and testing player combinations ahead of major tournaments. However, Pakistan will now face these challenges without one of their most explosive and experienced bowlers.
That said, once fit, Haris Rauf is expected to make a strong return and reclaim his place as a key figure in Pakistan’s white-ball setup.
