Pakistan’s pacer Haris Rauf has made it clear that he never turned down an opportunity to play Test cricket and is always ready to serve the nation in the longer version when offered a chance. In an exclusive conversation with Cricket Pakistan, Haris replied to the notion regarding his few outings in red-ball cricket.
“I’ve never claimed I’m unwilling to play Test cricket,” Haris Rauf firmly clarified. “If you condition yourself playing four-day games, you can certainly play Tests too. Back home in Pakistan, we sometimes have more white-ball series, so people presume a player does not play first-class cricket.”
Test and Domestic Commitments
Haris explained how time pressures from his overseas commitments regularly reduce his opportunities to play in the domestic tournament. “If you are playing international cricket, you can’t just go away and say you will play first-class. Everyone wants to play for Pakistan, so your complete attention is naturally international fixtures,” he said.
However, he emphasized that whenever his schedule permits, he’s always keen to return to the domestic circuit. “After I came back from the South Africa tour, there was a break before the Champions Trophy, and I utilized the time to play two first-class matches,” Haris explained.
PSL: A Battle of Skill and Pride
Speaking about the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Haris praised the competitiveness and professionalism of the players. “Everyone tries to give their best performance. That’s the beauty of this league—each player fights for his franchise with full passion. Off the field, we’re all friends, but on the field, it’s about pride and professionalism,” he added.
High-Scoring Era: A Challenge for Bowlers
Haris Rauf also spoke about the current trend of high-scoring games in international and league cricket. “Almost every match these days witnesses about 200 runs being scored. Out of 50 to 60 games, you might only see one or two instances where a team gets dismissed for around 100 or 120 runs. Fans usually love big scores with sixes and boundaries,” he said.
He acknowledged that it is difficult for bowlers, but explained, “As a bowler, your job is to not give away runs. There are days when everything goes your way, and others when it just doesn’t click.”
Calm Off the Field, Fierce On It
Speaking about his personality, Haris replied he’s not hostile in life. “I play to entertain the nation. I give my undivided concentration to the game when I’m in the park, but off the field, I don’t play with that severity. 24 hours in all, cricket monopolizes only 2; there are 22 hours remaining in which I should live like myself.”
Lahore Qalandars: A Strong Unit
Rauf credited Lahore Qalandars’ consistent success in the PSL to solid team unity and mutual trust among the players. “There’s a strong sense of trust and confidence shared among all the players. All the players have faith in each other, and that makes the difference,” he said.