Pakistan's pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi has thrown his support behind Haris Rauf to reclaim his form ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Afridi, recognizing Rauf as one of the best bowlers in Lahore Qalandars and Pakistan, expressed confidence in Rauf's ability to bounce back despite recent struggles.
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Rauf's performance has seen a decline since the 2023 World Cup, where he secured 16 wickets but also conceded numerous boundaries. In the recent T20I series against New Zealand, Rauf managed seven wickets across four matches but struggled with an economy rate of 10.62.
In an interview with Cricket Pakistan, Afridi emphasized that every player faces challenges, likening Rauf's situation to batsmen experiencing rough patches.
What did Shaheen Afridi say?
"Just like batsmen face tough times without scoring runs, bowlers also have such phases," he said.
"Haris is going through a tough time, but after difficulties come ease because he is a strong player and knows how to bounce back. He is not just Lahore Qalandars' but Pakistan's best bowler, so it's important for him to find his form again."
However, Rauf's journey has been marred by controversy, with the PCB terminating his central contract due to his absence from the Test tour of Australia. Consequently, he is barred from participating in overseas T20 leagues for the time being.
Afridi revealed that he is enjoying leading Pakistan and hopes to do his best in the T20 World Cup latter in June.
"I am enjoying leading my team. I am trying to take the team along with me. It's a great opportunity because I am not just the captain of Lahore Qalandars but also of Pakistan, so I am taking the players along as well, and enjoying it. This is a good opportunity for all of us to prepare for the T20 World Cup."
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