Haris Rauf: The Pakistani speedster has confirmed availability for the ongoing 10th season of the Big Bash League.
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Pakistan fast bowler Harif Rauf, who rose to prominence after a maiden stint for Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League last season, will return to the club for the ongoing 10th season.
Rauf, who has played 10 white-ball matches at the highest level and is currently with the national team in New Zealand, has confirmed availability after the announcement of South Africa’s tour of Pakistan 2021.
Wanting to prioritize national duty over BBL 2020-21, Rauf will juggle between Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand, BBL 10 and South Africa’s tour of Pakistan in the next two busy months amidst bio-bubbles for all the three geographical locations.
“I’m very happy that I can come back to the Melbourne Stars this season and play at the MCG again. It was an unbelievable journey last season and changed my life in so many ways.
“The Stars fans were very supportive of me and I can’t wait to play in front of them again. The support of all the Pakistan community in Melbourne was fantastic and hopefully we can put in some big performances this season,” Rauf said in a statement.
Haris Rauf will represent Melbourne Stars in BBL 2020-21
Rauf is expected to travel to Australia by “early January” after Pakistan finish their three-match T20I series between December 18 – December 22. While Pakistan are also scheduled to play a couple of Test matches between December 26 – January 7, the right-arm pacer is unlikely to make a Test debut in New Zealand.
Following the likes of Stars teammate Nicholas Pooran and Hobart Hurricanes’ Keemo Paul, Rauf won’t have to undergo any quarantine period upon reaching Australia due to the Trans-Tasman travel bubble that was recently established between Australia and New Zealand.
Stars, who are scheduled to play nine T20s in January, should have Rauf’s availability for at least four-five outings. It is worth mentioning that the 27-year old will have to return to Pakistan in due course of time to under quarantine period before the first T20I against South Africa on February 11.
ALSO WATCH: Haris Rauf takes maiden T20 hat-trick vs Sydney Thunder in BBL 2019-20
Provided Rauf earns a maiden Test call-up for the South Africa series at home which is slated to begin from January 26, he will be leaving Australia quite early. In Rauf’s absence, Stars have included 27-year old uncapped Pakistan fast bowler Dilbar Hussain, who had also made his BBL debut last season.
In BBL 2019-20, Rauf had picked 20 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 13.35, an economy rate of 7.05 and a strike rate of 11.3 to finish the season as their highest wicket-taker.
