‘Uska Bedha Gark Karke Hi Saans Lenge’ – Former Pakistan pacer’s shocking statement on Haris Rauf

Pakistan is 0-1 down in the three-match Test series against England and now they have suffered a big blow due to Haris Rauf being injured. Rauf made his Test debut in the series opener at Rawalpindi. He sustained a Grade 2 strain in his right quad when he rolled over the ball during a fielding mishap. He bowled 13 overs in the first innings and conceded 78 runs and took one wicket. In the second innings, he was not feeling alright so he didn’t bowl. 

Rauf has featured in almost every game for the Pakistan side in the limited-overs side. However, former Pakistan skipper Aaqib Javed is not satisfied with the management’s treatment of the bowler. Aaqib has represented Pakistan in 22 Tests and 163 ODIs and expressed his concern about Rauf’s place in the playing XI, believing that the 29-year-old quick is not ready to play Tests yet. 

You can’t have part-timers operate from one end: Aaqib Javed

“To make a comeback, Pakistan will have to play bowlers. Once they get a hold of a bowler, be in T20Is, ODIs or Tests – uska bedha gark karke saans lete hain (they don’t rest unless it is ruined). Haris should not be playing Tests because he is not that trained. Play bowlers who can play Test matches, who play First-Class cricket and pick wickets regularly. There is Mir Hamza – play such bowlers who can bowl for long periods and know where and how to bowl. And increase the number of bowlers,” Aaqib said in an interview.

Pakistan conceded 657 runs in the first innings with England making a record for hitting 506 runs on the opening day of the Test match. While England’s fast bowling pair of James Anderson and Ollie Pope each took four wickets in the final innings on a Day 5 pitch, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Ali, and Haris were ineffective. According to Aaqib, this is as a result of Pakistan’s persistent rejection of using specialized players, which must change if they are to tie the series in Multan.

“You can’t have part-timers operate from one end, who can stop the scoring, right? If you get wickets, only then will you get respite. Otherwise, they (England) will score at a brisk pace. Their mindset is to score at a run-a-ball. Keep a strike rate of 100. If they get out in the process, for them it doesn’t make a difference. And that is the difference. They bat at a strike rate of 100 or 135. How can there be a match?,” said the former Pakistan pacer.