Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf has expressed his ambition to return to the Test cricket squad ahead of the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka, scheduled for November.
Rauf, who has primarily established himself as a white-ball specialist with 143 appearances across ODIs and T20Is, has limited experience in the longer format. He has featured in 14 first-class matches, claiming 47 wickets at an average of 27.04, including three five-wicket hauls and best figures of 6/47. His only previous Test appearance for Pakistan occurred in 2022 against England, where he took one wicket.
Speaking on his aspirations, Rauf stated that there is always a purpose driving his cricket career. He noted that he is attempting to put his name forward for the Sri Lanka series, acknowledging that the national team is in need of fast bowling options.
Pakistan currently sits at the bottom of the ICC World Test Championship standings following a 3-0 series defeat to England. The team’s performance in that series was marked by difficulties in the pace department, where Mohammad Abbas served as the primary contributor with 13 wickets. In contrast, England’s pace attack, led by Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, and Jofra Archer, proved significantly more effective.
Rauf indicated that he is utilizing the current break in his schedule to prepare for the upcoming tours against Sri Lanka and England. He emphasized that playing the longer format is a key method for self-improvement and that he intends to use the available time to prepare for potential selection.
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