From Asia Cup nightmare to domestic humbling: Haris Rauf continues to get hammered in First-Class cricket | Cricket News
Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf’s nightmare run of form has continued, as the fiery quick endured another forgettable outing in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, where he was taken apart by Sialkot’s rising batter Aashar Mehmood. Once hailed as Pakistan’s premier death bowler, Rauf’s struggles since the Asia Cup final disaster against India have now spilled over into the domestic circuit — raising serious doubts about his immediate international future.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Rauf was among Pakistan’s most expensive bowlers in the Asia Cup final, conceding heavily as India snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. His wayward lengths and lack of control cost Pakistan dearly, and the selectors responded swiftly — dropping him from the T20I squad against South Africa and demoting him to the reserves.WATCH:Visuals of Haris Rauf being hammered by Aashar MehmoodLooking to redeem himself, Rauf turned up for Islamabad Region in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. However, things went from bad to worse as Sialkot’s Aashar Mehmood launched a brutal assault, smashing 73 off just 49 balls with 10 fours and 3 sixes, treating Rauf’s pace with disdain.Despite Rauf’s efforts to vary his line and length, Mehmood looked completely at ease, driving and lofting confidently against deliveries clocking well over 140 km/h. The Pakistan speedster ended the innings with 2 for 82 in 17 overs, and later managed 1 for 34 in 10 in the second — numbers that did little to repair his dented confidence.Sialkot went on to crush Islamabad by 311 runs, compounding the misery for Rauf and his team.
