Pakistan’s fast bowling firebrand Haris Rauf is staring at a spell on the sidelines after suffering a Grade 1 hamstring injury during the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 in the United States.
As a result, the 31-year-old is expected to miss Pakistan’s upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, slated to begin later this month.
MLC Campaign Cut Short
Rauf, who was in red-hot form for the San Francisco Unicorns, picked up the injury during their victory over the Texas Super Kings.
Unfortunately, the setback has not only ruled him out of the remainder of the American T20 league but has also thrown a spanner in his international plans.
The Unicorns confirmed the news through their social media handles, showing full support for the pacer while also announcing New Zealand’s Ben Lister as his replacement.
“We’re with you, Haris. The San Francisco Unicorns can confirm Haris Rauf will miss the remainder of #MLC2025 with a hamstring injury,” the franchise posted.
Despite the early exit, Rauf can hold his head high, he currently tops the MLC 2025 wicket charts with 17 scalps in eight matches at an economy rate of 9.08. He had been a crucial part of the Unicorns’ bowling attack, regularly delivering the goods in the death overs.
Uncertainty Over National Duty
Back home, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to issue an official statement on Rauf’s injury or provide a timeline for his recovery.
But as things stand, it looks increasingly unlikely that the speedster will feature in the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, which begins on 20 July at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
The series is set to be a key assignment in Pakistan’s white-ball calendar, with matches scheduled for 22 and 24 July following the opener. The squad is due to arrive in Bangladesh on 16 July, but unless there’s a sudden recovery, Haris Rauf is expected to miss out.
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