Pakistan’s fiery pacer, Haris Rauf, finds himself in a difficult period, as his recent appearance in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy added another chapter to his run of unfavorable performances. Sialkot’s batter Aashar Mehmood notably took him apart during the match.
Once celebrated as Pakistan’s premier death bowler, Rauf’s form has visibly declined since the unfortunate Asia Cup final against India. These struggles have now spilled into the domestic cricket scene, prompting serious questions about his immediate future in international cricket.
In the Asia Cup final, Rauf was among Pakistan’s most expensive bowlers, conceding crucial runs as India mounted a successful chase. His erratic lengths and lack of control proved costly, leading the selectors to remove him from the T20I squad for the upcoming South Africa series and place him in the reserves.
Eager to reclaim his form, Rauf turned out for Islamabad Region in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. However, his efforts were met with a brutal assault from Sialkot’s Aashar Mehmood, who smashed 73 runs off just 49 balls, including 10 fours and 3 sixes, showing little respect for Rauf’s pace. Despite Rauf’s attempts to vary his deliveries, Mehmood appeared comfortable, confidently driving and lofting balls that frequently exceeded 140 km/h.
Rauf concluded the innings with figures of 2 wickets for 82 runs in 17 overs. In the second innings, he managed 1 wicket for 34 runs in 10 overs. These statistics did little to reassure confidence in the struggling speedster. Sialkot ultimately triumphed over Islamabad with a commanding 311-run victory, further adding to Rauf’s and his team’s frustrations.