Former Pakistan cricketer takes a dig at Haris Rauf

Pakistan’s former cricketer Tanvir Ahmed, in a Youtube video on Tuesday, took a dig at fast-bowler Haris Rauf after Lahore Qalandars recent loss against Islamabad United at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore during the ongoing Habib Bank Limited (HBL) Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Tanvir was baffled by the inability of players like Haris to take the final wicket against the Islamabad United franchise which ultimately ended up costing Lahore Qalandars the match.

“The match against Islamabad should not have resulted in a loss. Shaheen gave a class performance. He put the whole match in the Qalandars hands. The last wicket then scored the remaining runs. Haris Rauf, in the Big Bash, goes around like he is untouchable and unplayable. He was bowling brilliant Yorkers and reverse swing. Here, the last wicket scored the runs against him. If a player like Haris Rauf, after gaining all the experience that he has gained, makes the same mistakes than what is the use of sending him for international exposure?” Tanvir said.

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The 41-year-old claimed that the bowlers needed to bowl Yorkers at the end which could stop opposing batsmen from scoring.

“Usman Shinwari couldn’t bowl well either. They should have bowled Yorkers rather than going for short pitched and slow deliveries. If you can bowl 140 plus to tailenders he will always find it hard to face Yorkers. I didn’t see any Yorkers in that final spell,” he said. “Lahore has played two matches so far. They have lost against Multan and Islamabad. If you lose matches at the start than what will the team do in the remainder of the tournament? Aqib Javed must be confused as well why his bowlers cannot bowl Yorkers at the death. What is the use of their pace if they aren’t even trying to bowl Yorkers?”

Tanvir sympathised with the Lahore Qalandars' owner Fawad Rana who has tried everything despite the shambolic performances of his team.

“I am deeply saddened whenever I see Fawad Rana or his pictures. What the players in Lahore Qalandars are doing to their owner, I don’t think anyone has done that. What kind of performances are the players giving on the field? They should see how much their owner enjoys watching his team win. When he is worried it is there for all to see. I think the players should think about what they are doing,” he said.

The former cricketer could not come to terms with what the players of Lahore Qalandars have been trying to do in all editions of the HBL PSL so far.

“It has been five seasons now and they continue to perform poorly. They give away easily winnable matches. They don’t seem to learn from their mistakes. They tried changing the coaches, captains and players each season but even with that I cannot understand what the players are trying to do,” he concluded.