Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf wants to return to Test cricket after winning the domestic red-ball in the first half of the season.
Rauf took five wickets for Pakistan Television (PTV) in their opening round President’s Trophy Grade-I match against Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL). His performance has renewed discussion about whether the express pacer could return to Pakistan's Test setup.
Rauf wants to make himself available for Test cricket and believes his pace could be useful to Pakistan.
Only one Test so far
In spite of being one of Pakistan's most prominent white-ball fast bowlers, Rauf has played only one Test match for the country.
His Test debut came against England in Rawalpindi in December 2022. He bowled 13 overs and took one wicket before he suffered a quad injury while fielding, which ruled him out of the rest of the series.
Since then, his international career has mainly been ODI and T20 cricket.
Workload was a major issue.
Rauf's Test ambitions have previously been complicated by workload issues.
He withdrew from Pakistan's Test tour of Australia in December 2023, citing workload and fitness issues. The decision made for criticism and raised questions about his commitment to red-ball cricket.
But the Pakistan chief selector and Rauf's domestic coach Mohammad Wasim has disputed the idea that the pacer does not want to play Test cricket.
Wasim told Dawn that Rauf is still interested in the longest format and believes his pace and aggression could give Pakistan another fast-bowling option.
Five-wicket haul changes the conversation
Rauf's five-wicket performance in the President's Trophy provides him with valuable red-ball experience after a long period focused mainly on limited-overs cricket.
Dawn also confirmed that this match was only his 14th first-class match. He now has 47 first-class wickets and he will have a chance to show his ability to bowl consistently with the red ball.
His domestic performances could be particularly relevant to Pakistan when it plays Test cricket at home later this year.
Sri Lanka series on the horizon
Pakistan's next home Test assignment will be a two-match series against Sri Lanka in November. The games are part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
The first Test in Rawalpindi is scheduled for November 9-13 and the second Test in Lahore from November 17-21.
Rauf's comments do not mean that he has been selected for either Test. They indicate that he wants to make himself available and compete for a place in the red-ball side.
