Haris Rauf Wants To Learn T20 Bowling From IPL Discarded Player

Haris Rauf eager to learn from IPL discarded player [Source: AFP]

Haris Rauf has hit a bit of a career setback, as the Pakistan fast bowler was ruled out of the national squad for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Incidentally, Rauf was excluded despite being one of the top-performing Pakistani players in the preceding BBL 2025-26 season in Australia earlier this year.

In any case, the 32-year-old recently made a triumphant return to the Pakistan team, picking up six wickets in just two ODI matches in Mirpur earlier this month against Bangladesh. Back home in Pakistan as part of the Lahore Qalandars franchise for the ongoing PSL 2026 season, Rauf also lit up the tournament opener with a match-winning spell against Hyderabad Kingsmen in Lahore.

Amid this phase of recalibration, the Pakistani paceman has now turned his attention towards refining his T20 bowling, even seeking insights from his Qalandars teammate, who also happens to be an IPL-discard from Bangladesh.

Haris Rauf praises Lahore Qalandars bowling attack

Lahore Qalandars crushed Hyderabad Kingsmen by 69 runs in the opening match of the PSL 2026 season on Thursday, March 26. Defending 200 runs for a win, Qalandars fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi, Ubaid Shah, Mustafizur Rahman and Haris Rauf himself folded up the Kingsmen for just 130 in 20 overs. Overseas spinner Sikandar Raza also chipped in with two wickets in the innings.

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After the match, Rauf praised Qalandars’ bowling attack, stating that despite fielding five quality bowlers, cunning leg-spinner Usama Mir had to be benched.

While speaking with the reporters during the press conference, he said “Our bowling lineup is so strong that even in international cricket I haven’t seen many attacks like this. We have some of the best T20 bowlers in both pace and spin. Even our bench has quality options. We will choose combinations based on conditions. Today, Usama Mir was on the bench while we played four pacers. He’s a very good T20 bowler, and Lahore always tries to field its best bowling attack.”

Haris Rauf keen to learn from Mustafizur Rahman

Haris Rauf also praised Lahore Qalandars’ Bangladesh import Mustafizur Rahman. The Pakistani speedster stated that Rahman’s presence has only enhanced Qalandars’ line-up, and hailed his experience and bowling variations in T20 cricket.

Rauf also added that he would love to learn Rahman’s tricks during their time together in the ongoing PSL 2026 season. He said “Mustafizur plays T20 leagues around the world and has performed very well for Bangladesh. He has made our bowling lineup stronger. I’ll try to learn from him. He is very experienced, and I want to pick up different bowling skills from him and use them on the field.”

Mustafizur Rahman barred from IPL 2026 for KKR

Mustafizur Rahman was nabbed by the KKR franchise late last year at the auction for the IPL 2026 season. However, the experienced fast bowler was forced to be removed from the KKR squad at the instruction of BCCI, in light of the rise of anti-India political and religious sentiment in Bangladesh.

KKR’s loss ended up becoming Lahore Qalandars’ gain as the speedster’s IPL exclusion made him fully available for the PSL 2026 season in Pakistan.

Haris Rauf, Rahman to face Karachi Kings

Both Haris Rauf and Mustafizur Rahman will now be expected to turn up for the Lahore Qalandars franchise for their next match, set to be played against Karachi Kings. The match will be hosted by the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday, March 29 later this weekend.

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