Pakistan’s Haris Rauf has never hidden his admiration for some of the most influential cricketers from across the globe, but when asked to name the player he thinks has been unmatched during the last 25 years of cricket, he was quick to name South Africa’s Dale Steyn.
He revealed his pick in a candid interview with ESPNcricinfo, offering a rare glimpse into his cricketing inspirations. While he took longer to answer some other questions, he was quick in naming Dale Steyn as his choice for the most revered player from the last quarter of a century.
It is easy to see why Haris Rauf stuck to the brotherhood of pacers over players like Kane Williamson, Ricky Ponting, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and countless others who have a case to be in this conversation. The South African speedster was a menace on his day who tormented batters throughout his career. A master of the outswinger at otherworldly speeds, Steyn used his powers to take 699 international wickets across the three formats.
The admiration is mutual. Dale Steyn has previously praised Haris Rauf for the work he did during their overlapping spells for Melbourne Stars, where Haris replaced Steyn for a couple of games and caught the world’s eye before his stardom. Although the two never shared the field together, their mutual respect for each other’s work is well established.
While Steyn has since retired, Rauf has become a key figure in Pakistan’s setup and a constant reminder that even if one great fast bowler retires, another takes his place—irrespective of whether one plays for South Africa or Pakistan. The art of ferocious bowling is still alive, and Haris Rauf now carries the flag that Dale Steyn waved for years prior.