Former Pakistan cricket captain and wicket-keeper Rashid Latif has called for pacer Haris Rauf to be included in Pakistan’s Test squad for the upcoming series against South Africa. Rashid also criticized Rauf’s continued involvement in the ongoing T20I series against Zimbabwe, arguing that the pacer’s workload should be managed with tougher challenges on the horizon.
Speaking on his podcast, Rashid expressed his concerns, stating:
“They should bring Haris Rauf for South Africa Tests. He’s playing unnecessarily in these T20Is. If you can drop Shaheen, Hasnain, Naseem, and Babar, why not your main weapon, Haris Rauf? He’s the one who needs the rest right now. He can be lethal in South Africa. I can guarantee his success, but I can’t say the same for other bowlers.”
Haris Rauf has been absent from Pakistan’s Test lineup since his sole appearance in 2022 against England, a match in which he sustained an injury after bowling just 13 overs. Although he was later recalled by then-selector Wahab Riaz for the Test series against Australia, Haris withdrew from selection, opting to focus on limited-overs cricket. Since then, he has remained a mainstay in Pakistan’s white-ball setup but has been overlooked for the longest format of the game.
Despite being labelled a limited-overs specialist, Haris’ raw pace and ability to exploit seaming conditions make him an intriguing option for South African pitches, known to favor fast bowlers. Rashid Latif strongly believes that the inclusion of Haris Rauf in the Test squad could prove pivotal, adding an X-factor to Pakistan’s pace attack in a crucial away series.
With South Africa’s wickets tailored for pacers, the decision to include Haris Rauf in the Test squad could significantly bolster Pakistan’s chances, provided the selectors heed Rashid’s advice and rethink their plans for the pacer.