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Haris Rauf in a post match press conference after defeating UAE in the Asia Cup 2025:
Question: Congratulations on Pakistan qualifying for the Super Four. However, our batting has struggled in these three matches, putting a heavy burden on the bowlers. You played today after a gap of two matches. Overall, how would you describe Pakistan's journey in the Asia Cup so far?
Haris Rauf: Look, the batting has no doubt struggled a little bit, and I think the current conditions are a bit tough for a batting unit. A lot of the boys are discussing this and trying to figure out how to tackle it, what kind of batting is required here. God willing, we will try to ensure that in the next matches, our top three batters stay till the end so that we can set a good total on this wicket. If a good total is set, I don't think it's easy to chase.
Question: Pakistan's performance was below average in the first match against India. What expectations can fans have now for a competitive and very good match on Sunday?
Haris Rauf: Look, cricket has high expectations, and you can never be certain which team will win. Because it's a sport, and it's better to treat the game as a game. One team wins, and one team loses, no doubt. But in the end, it is seen who played the better cricket. We will try our best to play good cricket here and ensure that all our fans get to see a good game.
Question: Haris, I don't want to know what happened in the past days, but I want to know, as a senior player on this team, what was your mental space like when all these things were happening? You had a match to play, a press conference was cancelled, a post-match presentation was cancelled before that, and today's event was delayed by an hour. As a player, what kind of pressure were you feeling amidst all this, because keeping cool and calm in the middle of all this couldn't have been easy?
Haris Rauf: No, I wasn't feeling any pressure because those things you're talking about are not in my control. Those are the Board's decisions. They are the ones who have the headache, and they can manage it better. My focus was only on playing the match today. As for the external matters, the management knows better. They handle them well, and I think they have handled the situation very well.
Question: You're back in the team. As you said, the batters are struggling. As a bowler, do you understand the mistakes our batters are making? We've seen the Pakistan team come back from such situations many times. The 2017 Champions Trophy is the biggest example. We lost badly in one match and gave a strong response at The Oval. We have always had and continue to have hope from the Pakistan team. So, what would you say—is our combination finalized, or do you think some change is still needed, and will our team play a big match on Sunday?
Haris Rauf: It would be too early to say whether the team will remain the same or change. Again, this is not my domain to talk about who plays and who doesn't. It depends on the coaches and the captain what team they select. As a player, your job is to grab the opportunity if you get one. Regarding the batters, I think they will sit together and talk—because good discussions lead to good outcomes—about the mistakes they are making. We have two or three days of practice before the match, and we will try to prepare ourselves according to the conditions for the upcoming matches.
Question: How difficult is it as a fast bowler who hasn't been playing, and then you come onto pitches like this? You mentioned the pitch is quite difficult, especially for a tearaway fast bowler like yourself, to bowl on such pitches. Can you describe the length adjustments and how difficult it was for you, and how you managed it, especially since you weren't playing consistently?
Haris Rauf: Yes, it is definitely difficult when you haven't played many matches and then suddenly you play a game. But as a professional, you know that if you get an opportunity, you have to seize it. For me, every next match is an opportunity, and I wait for my turn. I try to take a wicket when the team needs one. Then, it depends on the conditions—you see what the conditions demand. When the conditions demand something, you prepare yourself accordingly. It's a slightly tough condition for a batters, and you prepare yourself to figure out which length is effective here. I've been watching the matches here for a long time—the tri-nation series and the Asia Cup matches. I've not just sat out; I've been doing my practice, observing the conditions, and working on them. I got a chance today, and I tried to have a good execution for my team.
Question: You are Pakistan's leading wicket-taker and have been playing consistently for a long time, but you were rested in the last few matches. You were not a part of the team. What message did the team management give you—was it due to the combination or your form? Did they give you a plan to work on, or what do you think was the reason for being rested?
Haris Rauf: Your point is absolutely right. The conditions are such that the management will naturally give a chance to whoever suits the conditions. And no doubt, the boys did well; they won us the tri-nation series. The management knows that you are a main bowler, and it's not easy for any player to sit out. But in the end, you look at what the team needs. They played the team that was required, and my job is to back the team. We have a lot of good players in the team, and as a senior player, the more you back them and give them confidence, the better performance they will deliver. They have performed well in the series. Right now, you see that spinners are more effective, and all the teams are approaching the game that way. So, this is the management's work. My job, again, is to wait for the opportunity and be with the team. It is also a big thing to stay with your team and keep talking to your juniors as a senior player.
Question: We've seen Pakistan's top order collapse, but Shaheen Afridi came down and scored well that day, and he played a lot of power hitting today as well. We also saw you hit four boundaries in Sharjah. So, are Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi working a lot on their batting too?
Haris Rauf: It is not the case that if the batters get out, the bowlers won't come in to bat. They have an equally important role in adding runs for the team at the end. No doubt, the way Shaheen performed well in both matches, delivering a performance at the right time, has played a big role in the matches we've won. As a bowler, you also have to work on your batting. If you can add 10-15 runs at the end as a bowler, it boosts the team's morale and creates a momentum. When you hit a couple of boundaries and then come out to the field, that momentum carries forward.
Question: Congratulations on Pakistan qualifying for the Super Four. However, our batting has struggled in these three matches, putting a heavy burden on the bowlers. You played today after a gap of two matches. Overall, how would you describe Pakistan's journey in the Asia Cup so far?
Haris Rauf: Look, the batting has no doubt struggled a little bit, and I think the current conditions are a bit tough for a batting unit. A lot of the boys are discussing this and trying to figure out how to tackle it, what kind of batting is required here. God willing, we will try to ensure that in the next matches, our top three batters stay till the end so that we can set a good total on this wicket. If a good total is set, I don't think it's easy to chase.
Question: Pakistan's performance was below average in the first match against India. What expectations can fans have now for a competitive and very good match on Sunday?
Haris Rauf: Look, cricket has high expectations, and you can never be certain which team will win. Because it's a sport, and it's better to treat the game as a game. One team wins, and one team loses, no doubt. But in the end, it is seen who played the better cricket. We will try our best to play good cricket here and ensure that all our fans get to see a good game.
Question: Haris, I don't want to know what happened in the past days, but I want to know, as a senior player on this team, what was your mental space like when all these things were happening? You had a match to play, a press conference was cancelled, a post-match presentation was cancelled before that, and today's event was delayed by an hour. As a player, what kind of pressure were you feeling amidst all this, because keeping cool and calm in the middle of all this couldn't have been easy?
Haris Rauf: No, I wasn't feeling any pressure because those things you're talking about are not in my control. Those are the Board's decisions. They are the ones who have the headache, and they can manage it better. My focus was only on playing the match today. As for the external matters, the management knows better. They handle them well, and I think they have handled the situation very well.
Question: You're back in the team. As you said, the batters are struggling. As a bowler, do you understand the mistakes our batters are making? We've seen the Pakistan team come back from such situations many times. The 2017 Champions Trophy is the biggest example. We lost badly in one match and gave a strong response at The Oval. We have always had and continue to have hope from the Pakistan team. So, what would you say—is our combination finalized, or do you think some change is still needed, and will our team play a big match on Sunday?
Haris Rauf: It would be too early to say whether the team will remain the same or change. Again, this is not my domain to talk about who plays and who doesn't. It depends on the coaches and the captain what team they select. As a player, your job is to grab the opportunity if you get one. Regarding the batters, I think they will sit together and talk—because good discussions lead to good outcomes—about the mistakes they are making. We have two or three days of practice before the match, and we will try to prepare ourselves according to the conditions for the upcoming matches.
Question: How difficult is it as a fast bowler who hasn't been playing, and then you come onto pitches like this? You mentioned the pitch is quite difficult, especially for a tearaway fast bowler like yourself, to bowl on such pitches. Can you describe the length adjustments and how difficult it was for you, and how you managed it, especially since you weren't playing consistently?
Haris Rauf: Yes, it is definitely difficult when you haven't played many matches and then suddenly you play a game. But as a professional, you know that if you get an opportunity, you have to seize it. For me, every next match is an opportunity, and I wait for my turn. I try to take a wicket when the team needs one. Then, it depends on the conditions—you see what the conditions demand. When the conditions demand something, you prepare yourself accordingly. It's a slightly tough condition for a batters, and you prepare yourself to figure out which length is effective here. I've been watching the matches here for a long time—the tri-nation series and the Asia Cup matches. I've not just sat out; I've been doing my practice, observing the conditions, and working on them. I got a chance today, and I tried to have a good execution for my team.
Question: You are Pakistan's leading wicket-taker and have been playing consistently for a long time, but you were rested in the last few matches. You were not a part of the team. What message did the team management give you—was it due to the combination or your form? Did they give you a plan to work on, or what do you think was the reason for being rested?
Haris Rauf: Your point is absolutely right. The conditions are such that the management will naturally give a chance to whoever suits the conditions. And no doubt, the boys did well; they won us the tri-nation series. The management knows that you are a main bowler, and it's not easy for any player to sit out. But in the end, you look at what the team needs. They played the team that was required, and my job is to back the team. We have a lot of good players in the team, and as a senior player, the more you back them and give them confidence, the better performance they will deliver. They have performed well in the series. Right now, you see that spinners are more effective, and all the teams are approaching the game that way. So, this is the management's work. My job, again, is to wait for the opportunity and be with the team. It is also a big thing to stay with your team and keep talking to your juniors as a senior player.
Question: We've seen Pakistan's top order collapse, but Shaheen Afridi came down and scored well that day, and he played a lot of power hitting today as well. We also saw you hit four boundaries in Sharjah. So, are Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi working a lot on their batting too?
Haris Rauf: It is not the case that if the batters get out, the bowlers won't come in to bat. They have an equally important role in adding runs for the team at the end. No doubt, the way Shaheen performed well in both matches, delivering a performance at the right time, has played a big role in the matches we've won. As a bowler, you also have to work on your batting. If you can add 10-15 runs at the end as a bowler, it boosts the team's morale and creates a momentum. When you hit a couple of boundaries and then come out to the field, that momentum carries forward.
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