Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf has said that his job, together with captain Shaheen Shah Afridi and fellow pacer Naseem Shah, is to get wickets for the side. Speaking to reporters in Lahore ahead of Sunday’s match against England, he stressed that taking wickets remains at the heart of the fast bowlers’ duties.
Rauf said the squad works on a shared basis, saying “This is a team game, and everyone is supporting one another.” He added that Shaheen’s presence in the lineup gives Pakistan a significant advantage, calling it always beneficial to have him in the team.
Defending 300 and taking middle-over wickets
Rauf’s comments came after Pakistan made a positive start to the ongoing ODI tri-series, winning both matches against Sri Lanka and England. He said the side’s ability to defend a total of 300 runs was an encouraging sign.
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He added that teams are now scoring more than 300 or 400, so Pakistan must also aim to post 350 and defend it. Taking wickets in the middle overs is important, he said, because runs are scored everywhere now that cricket has changed.
Fitness, pace and support for the batters
Rauf described express pace as an X-factor in modern cricket. He said he keeps working on his fitness and speed so that people have fewer reasons to talk about him, while playing down criticism and reaffirming his commitment to performing for Pakistan.
He also backed batters Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman to score runs in Lahore.
