Gully Boy Haris Rauf's journey begins with Pakistan

All life is a journey, not a home; it is a road, not the country. Like every other struggling story, this too began in the Gullies of Rawalpindi, where a young quick was playing with the tennis ball hiding it from his parents. Haris’ journey was excruciating, plaguing due to the lack of confidence shown on the youngster in his early days with the tennis ball. However, all that they could do instead is make him hungry for success, improvement and moreover to drive him towards in breaking the door that would lead him to cricket. 

“They said, we couldn’t enter, come tomorrow,” recollected Haris in an interview with ESPNCricinfo. However, this time, the urge was there to prove a point as Haris and his friend entered via the back-gate. While his friend was the one who instigated the 23-year-old to accompany him for the trials, it slowly turned to Haris taking up the mantle. The duo kept clearing the rounds until Haris hit the jackpot. A speed gun, Haris and his friend, the selectors and a 92.3 mph mark after the trials. That is what got Haris into the Qalandars. 

It all came crashing down when he got injured, missing the 3rd edition of the Pakistan Super League and putting all his efforts in vain. However, when you are talented and have made the right mark, life gives you another opportunity which he earned through the 4th season of the PSL after a stint at the Western Suburbs in 2018. 

Against Islamabad United, Haris made his PSL debut for the Lahore Qalandars bowling against Cameron Delport and Hussain Talat. While he was highly inconsistent in his first game where he bowled several wides, including a wide beamer. However, redemption was on cards, when Rauf’s 80mph deliveries were catching the batsmen by surprise. In the 5th game of the season, against Karachi Kings, Haris bowled the first spell post the powerplay. 

Australia paved his way to becoming the superstar:

Even before the flight landed in Melbourne, the South African was injured, meaning they need a replacement. And, arrived, Haris Rauf in Melbourne replacing his idol for the first three games in the Big Bash League. Immediately, he struck a rapport with the Stars unit, a tempo with his bowling and in his first over, he took a wicket making an instant impact replacing Steyn. However, the impact was cut short when the South African returned. For Stars, just like how luck has played a huge part this season, Pat Brown was injured and came back as a ‘cult-hero’ this time around. 

Prior to Sydney Thunder, the pacer from Rawalpindi took seven wickets in just two games, showcasing the raw pace that the Stars were promised when they signed him. Furthermore, in the Hurricanes’ encounter, Haris had picked up five wickets, surprising the Hurricanes’ every delivery with his pace and the lack of it. Against Sydney Thunder, the 26-year-old picked up his first hattrick, second of the day after Rashid Khan. That spell encapsulates everything that Haris is capable of - pace, bouncers and a barrage of yorkers, with batsmen getting off the strike to avoid the pacer. 7 games, 16 wickets, a dream finally came true when he was called up for Pakistan’s home T20I series against Bangladesh. 

As Jon Snow said, “That's a direwolf. They grow larger than the other kind,” these are pacers, who have kept Pakistan in the game for the longest time. If the time comes, only the lone wolf will die, the pack will still survive.