Haris seeks to attain his best before playing Tests

ISLAMABAD: Pace bowler Haris Rauf who is now in Karachi for the National T20 Championship is upset at the criticism unleashed from all corners on his lack of form during the World Cup campaign.

Sources close to the fast bowler confirmed to The News that he wanted to be in the best of shape, mentally, physically, and form-wise to restart playing Test cricket.

“Look Haris is upset with those who have unleashed undue criticism on the pacers during the World Cup campaign. Even those who hardly know anything are criticising his form and raising questions about his not picking wickets regularly during World Cup matches.

What a fast bowler requires is to get mentally fit and ready for big-time cricket. Haris believes that he is not in the right state of mind physically and mentally to play Test cricket where you have to stay alert all five days,” a close family source said.

He said that Haris preferred to play a shorter version of the game in order to get physically and mentally ready for Tests and other international commitments. “It is just a matter of months before you see him playing all formats of the game. Currently, he wants to concentrate fully on T20 cricket.” Almost the same sentiments were echoed in Haris Rauf’s tweet that appeared on X where he expressed his anguish over social media’s criticism during the World Cup.

“I was criticized and ridiculed for performing terribly in the World Cup, most of the social media experts wanted me to be dropped from the 50 overs white ball team but now suddenly they want me to play test cricket without any physical and mental preparation. Hypocrite.

“Test cricket is not only about bowling 10 to 12 overs per day, you have to stay in the field for 90 overs a day and in Australia, the weather is extremely hot during December. My body has been on the run for the last 6 months and would have broken down there for sure. Keep in mind that we have five matches T20 series coming up after the Australian tour,” he said.

With one eye on the June World Cup to be held in the USA and West Indies, Haris is likely to focus all his energies on playing T20 cricket.