ISLAMABAD – Lahore Qalanadar’s Haris Rauf Sunday said his goal was to bowlthe fastest delivery in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2019 andearn a place in the national squad for this year’s World Cup.The 25-year-old had never bowled with a red or white leather ball before hewas picked up in the trials in Gujranwala in 2017, said a statement issuedhere.Haris impressed with his bowling in a multi-national Twenty20 tournamentheld in Abu Dhabi last year when he bowled for Lahore Qalandars anddefended 19 runs in the last over in the final against South Africa’sTitans. Which helped Qalandars won the title.On Saturday, Haris in a PSL game against Karachi took four for 23 in just 4overs. In tandem with Shaheen Shah Afridi – who took two for 20 – Harisdestroyed Karachi Kings to help Lahore defend a modest 139-runtarget.Hailing from Rawalpindi, Haris worked part-time in a shop as asalesman. “I never thought to play for Lahore one day and all credit goesto Qalandars for tapping my talent”.“My family always opposed me playing cricket. Some of the trophies I wonwere thrown away as my parents wanted me to become an engineer or a doctor,but I used to run away and play cricket,” he said.Lahore team’s coach Aqib Javed believes Haris can break Shoaib Akhtar’srecord of fastest bowl. “He has the potential and the ability to become oneof the fastest bowlers in the world,” he said.
Lahore Qalandars’ official Rana Sameen said Haris came for the trials inGujranwala in September 2017 when he delivered the first ball, the speedgun showed 92.3mph.“We could not believe, so we asked him to bowl again and it was of the samespeed,” he recalled.He said we engaged him for the Australia tour in the development squad andinvited Kyle Mills (England fast bowler) and Grant Elliott (New Zealandall-rounder) as coaches.
