Haris Rauf

Basic Information:

• Full Name: Haris Rauf

• Date of Birth: November 7, 1993

• Place of Birth: Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan

• Height: 5 ft 11 in (approx.)

• Bowling Style: Right-arm fast

• Batting Style: Right-handed

• Role: Bowler

• Teams: Pakistan National Team, Lahore Qalandars (PSL), Melbourne Stars (BBL), and others

Early Life & Background:

Haris Rauf's journey to international cricket is nothing short of extraordinary:

• Born in a humble family in Rawalpindi, Haris did not follow the traditional path of academy-based training.

• He was more interested in football during his school years and even represented his school as a football goalkeeper.

• While attending International Islamic University, Islamabad, he played tennis-ball cricket for fun and local competition — which is where he developed his raw pace and aggression.

Rise to Fame – The Discovery Story:

• In 2017, Haris attended open trials for the Lahore Qalandars Player Development Program, organized by former Pakistan bowler Aaqib Javed.

• Despite lacking formal training, his raw pace (140+ km/h) and fierce attitude impressed scouts.

• He was selected for Lahore Qalandars' development squad and taken to Australia for training.

Domestic & T20 Franchise Career:

Lahore Qalandars (PSL):

• Joined the PSL in 2018.

• Became a fan favorite due to his energy, aggression, and ability to bowl in the death overs.

Melbourne Stars (BBL):

• In 2019–20, Haris was signed as a replacement for Dale Steyn in the Big Bash League (BBL).

• He made headlines by:

  • Taking a hat-trick against Sydney Thunder

  • Bowling consistently at 150+ km/h

• Finished as one of the tournament’s leading wicket-takers.

Other Teams:

• Played for:

  • Yorkshire (County Cricket, England)

  • Welsh Fire (The Hundred)

  • Dhaka Dynamites (BPL)

  • Northern (Pakistan domestic)

International Career:

T20I Debut:

• Date: January 24, 2020

• Opponent: Bangladesh

• Known for his impactful debut and wicket-taking ability.

ODI Debut:

• Date: October 30, 2020

• Opponent: Zimbabwe

Test Debut:

• Date: December 1, 2022

• Opponent: England

• Played only 1 Test match due to injury.

Key Strengths:

• Express Pace – Regularly clocks 145–155 km/h.

• Yorkers and Slower Balls – Particularly deadly in death overs.

• Fighting Attitude – Never gives up and often brings energy to the team.

• Fitness and Stamina – Improved drastically since his early days.

Notable Achievements:

• Hat-trick in BBL (2020) – One of the few Pakistani bowlers to achieve this in a foreign league.

• Integral part of Pakistan’s T20 squad, including:

  • 2021 ICC T20 World Cup semi-finalist

  • 2022 ICC T20 World Cup runner-up

• Among the fastest Pakistani bowlers in recent history.

Injuries & Challenges:

• Suffered injuries that affected his Test and ODI consistency, especially in late 2022 and 2023.

• His aggressive style of bowling puts strain on his body, leading to frequent workload management.

Personality & Off-the-Field:

• Known for his humble beginnings and respect for mentors like Aaqib Javed.

• Married Muzna Masood Malik in December 2022 in a celebrated nikkah ceremony.

• Often seen supporting local cricket programs and inspiring young fast bowlers.

Career Stats

Format     Matches     Wickets    Best Bowling     Average     Economy

Tests 1                      1                    1/78                     78.00             5.57

ODIs 29+                      50+                5/18                     27             5.9

T20Is 60+                      80+            4/18                     21             8.0

Legacy & Future Prospects:

Haris Rauf represents a new wave of Pakistani fast bowlers—fearless, powerful, and exciting. Though not a classical swing bowler, his intensity, speed, and commitment have made him one of Pakistan’s go-to strike weapons in white-ball formats.

With careful injury management and coaching, he could become one of Pakistan’s all-time T20 greats.