Haris Rauf Nears Comeback After Hamstring Setback

Pakistan’s express pacer Haris Rauf is back in action, resuming bowling after shaking off a hamstring injury picked up during the 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) season, providing a timely boost for Pakistan’s limited-overs ambitions as a busy international stretch looms.

Rauf suffered a Grade 1 strain to his right hamstring while turning out for the San Francisco Unicorns in a group-stage clash against the Texas Super Kings. The setback ruled him out of Pakistan’s tour of Bangladesh, and his availability for the West Indies series remained uncertain as well.

After a mandatory 10-day rest, Rauf returned to the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, where he’s been steadily ramping up his training under the watchful eyes of the PCB’s medical staff. According to sources close to the team, Haris Rauf is now bowling at nearly full tilt and is expected to be match-ready in time for the West Indies series.

His return could significantly bolster Pakistan’s pace attack as the team builds towards the 2025 Asia Cup and the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Depending on the final tour itinerary, Rauf is likely to feature only in the T20 format, with Pakistan eager to keep him fully fit for the marquee tournaments ahead.

The PCB and CWI are currently ironing out the details of the upcoming tour, with the PCB pushing to convert the ODIs into T20s.

As Pakistan navigates scheduling hurdles and strategic tweaks, Haris Rauf’s comeback from the hamstring injury couldn’t have been better timed. His raw pace and knack for breakthroughs remain central to Pakistan’s white-ball ambitions over the next months.