Haris Rauf, the Pakistani fast bowler, has been facing a tough time in the World Cup, and his performance has raised concerns within the Pakistan cricket team. In a recent match against Afghanistan, Rauf’s difficulties were evident as he bowled short and wide deliveries that were easily dispatched to the boundary by Rahmanullah Gurbaz. This has been a recurring issue for Rauf in the tournament.
His problems began in a previous game against Australia when he started with a short and wide delivery that David Warner capitalized on, sending it to the boundary and even onto the roof of the stadium. Rauf conceded 59 runs in his first four overs during that match, leaving the team captain, Babar Azam, searching for answers.
One of the main challenges for Pakistan in this World Cup is the lack of support from the other end. Naseem Shah is not there to partner with Rauf, and even the spearhead of their attack, Shaheen Shah Afridi, is struggling to find his rhythm. The spinners have also not been able to provide the penetration needed.
Shadab Khan, a key player in the Pakistani squad, acknowledges that players go through ups and downs in their careers, but the main concern is that multiple players are struggling at the same time. This collective struggle is impacting the team’s performance.
Rauf’s role has become even more critical with Afridi not finding the prodigious swing he is known for. However, Rauf isn’t a swing bowler and has had difficulty maintaining control over his lines and lengths during the powerplay, which is the first ten overs of the innings with only two fielders allowed outside the circle. In the tournament, Rauf has bowled six overs in the powerplay, conceding 66 runs without taking a wicket, resulting in an economy rate of 11, the worst among all bowlers in this phase.
Indian pitches offer very little margin for error, especially with the new ball, and batsmen can easily take advantage of any width provided. The Pakistan bowling coach, Morne Morkel, emphasizes the need to focus on keeping the stumps in play and consistently hitting the deck. He believes that even if the batsmen play some good shots, as a bowler, you have six deliveries to look for that one mistake, and it’s crucial to minimize bad balls.
Rauf has traditionally excelled in the middle overs, but even that strength has deserted him in this tournament. Until the World Cup started, he was the top wicket-taker in overs 11 to 40, with 12 wickets in 13 innings at an economy rate of 5.55. In the current World Cup, he has only managed to take two wickets in five innings during this phase, conceding nearly seven runs per over.
Facing Afghanistan, Rauf’s pace was used against him as batters targeted the square boundaries, which are shorter than the straight boundaries. Rauf struggled to adapt to the conditions and lacked a Plan B.
Looking ahead, Pakistan faces a formidable challenge against South Africa’s explosive middle order. However, the conditions might be more favorable for them in the upcoming match, as they will play on the quickest pitch in Chennai, which is reminiscent of the venue’s old days. The question remains whether Rauf can regain his form and revive Pakistan’s campaign, much like Lockie Ferguson’s recent performance for New Zealand. The stage is set for Rauf and his team to turn things around.
