For the second Twenty20 International in Auckland, the fast bowler rejoined Pakistan’s team. Prior to the third Twenty20 International against Pakistan, Haris Rauf addressed the media.
Even if they have everything, elite athletes frequently lack time. No player in Pakistani cricket history has ever taken a break from the game, with the exception of matches within the calendar. Haris Rauf is aware that nothing beats participating in the Big Bash, pulling out of Pakistan’s Test series in Australia, and proving himself worthy of his key contract.
When he was using his cricket board to try to patch things up, he had no idea what a sympathetic break was. But things happened as they might, and he ended up holding his shoulder after an untimed dive in the last over of the PSL’s most watched match. He will miss the remaining PSL matches, Pakistan’s home series against New Zealand, and the away series in Ireland due to his three-month absence. He won’t be back until Saturday’s match in Birmingham.
Haris concedes that there was some good that came from the break. Before Pakistan’s third Twenty20 International match against England in Cardiff, he made the following statement at a press conference: “I’ve been injured for the past few months, but if you believe in yourself, then recuperation can be a blessing in disguise.” “Because you have time to reevaluate and fine-tune your game plans. It was nice to return to cricket. Being a national player makes you feel incredibly proud.
His comeback in Auckland was respectable, if not outstanding. With two wickets in his 34-run session, he was the best fast bowler available. This includes Rauf’s poorest phase, an illegal powerplay over that ran for 17 runs. He bowled with consistent pace and accuracy during his stay, taking two wickets off a ball while conceding fewer runs than usual.
This would be insufficient, as Pakistan ultimately lost handily. We’re confident as a team, despite the saying that losing games hurts. We believe that on any given day, we can defeat any opponent. We have already done this once. You make an effort to grow from your errors and keep from happening again. In the upcoming games, we hope to improve and stage a comeback.”
“The camp is peaceful right now. We’re working very hard to carry out our game plans efficiently. Though things haven’t gone our way lately, things may change for the better if you follow through on your intentions.”
Rauf also talked about the psychological and physical problems of recovering after a long-term injury, particularly for a fast bowler – a subject recently addressed by Nasim Shah as well. He remarked, “It’s tough.” It is difficult to maintain that pace and accuracy once you are back on the road to recovery. But if you believe in yourself, things become easier. When I wasn’t in the team and recovering, I had a lot on my plate. It’s a time to reflect on your game and work on yourself. I’m thankful I’m back now, and the World Cup is coming.”
Pakistan is adamant about getting as much practice in before the World Cup. In 2024, they’ll have played 17 T20Is apart from the PSL until the end of this series. It includes experimenting with the top order, bowling combinations, and indeed the change in captaincy. The series in Ireland, despite winning 2-1, hasn’t been smooth sailing for them; it’s their only T20I series win since the 2022 World Cup.
Rauf admits that winning the next two games will give Pakistan a lot of confidence, but he insists these games are more than that. Winning a series before the World Cup gives you confidence, but even if you lose, you understand where you’ve made mistakes and learn from them. “This series is tough, but we’ll try to win it. The focus is certainly on the World Cup, which we want to win for the pride of our country.”