Rauf ruled out of MLC 2025 amid hamstring injury

Fast bowler Haris Rauf has been ruled out of the rest of the 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) season after picking up a Grade 1 hamstring injury during the San Francisco Unicorns’ recent victory over the Texas Super Kings.

The franchise confirmed his unavailability on social media and named New Zealand’s Ben Lister as his replacement for the remainder of the tournament.

"We're with you, Haris. The San Francisco Unicorns can confirm Haris Rauf will miss the remainder of MLC2025 with a hamstring injury, with New Zealand pace bowler Ben Lister to replace him, effective immediately," the franchise team said on X.

Rauf, who currently tops the MLC 2025 wicket charts with 17 scalps in eight matches at an economy rate of 9.08, was a key performer for the Unicorns.

Meanwhile, the pacer is also expected to miss Pakistan’s upcoming T20I series against the Bengal Tigers later this month.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has yet to issue a statement regarding the 31-year-old’s injury status or the expected duration of his rehabilitation.

It is pertinent to mention that the national team is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on July 16, with the three-match series starting on July 20 at the Shere-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

The second and third T20Is are set to be played on July 22 and 24, respectively.

Following the Bangladesh tour, the Men in Green are scheduled to travel to the West Indies in August for a white-ball series comprising three ODIs and three T20Is.