Former West Indies cricketer calls Mohammad Haris 'Exactly what white-ball cricket needs'

Former West Indies fast bowler and commentator Ian Bishop has backed Mohammad Haris, calling him a player who fits perfectly into modern white-ball cricket. Bishop believes the young wicketkeeper-batter has the potential to succeed at the international level.  

Pakistan, the defending champions, were knocked out of the Champions Trophy 2025 in the group stage. Their hopes ended after New Zealand defeated Bangladesh on Monday, leaving no chance for Pakistan to recover in the tournament.  

Pakistan, who won the Champions Trophy in 2017 under Sarfaraz Ahmed’s captaincy, started their title defense against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi but lost by 60 runs. Their struggles continued as they suffered a six-wicket defeat to India, with Virat Kohli’s century and a strong bowling performance leading to their downfall.  

Pakistan’s early exit has sparked discussions among experts. During the England vs Afghanistan match, commentators Ian Bishop, Nasser Hussain, and Ian Smith shared their thoughts on the team’s struggles.  

“They've got some good young fast bowlers around this country. Really good bowlers, got to groom them well. There's hope, there is talent,” Bishop said.  

Nasser Hussain pointed out that Pakistan also faced injuries to key openers Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman, which hurt their chances.  

In response, Bishop emphasized the importance of having depth in the squad and praised Mohammad Haris for his aggressive style.  

“Even on that, Nasser, it's strength in depth,” Bishop said. “That's what New Zealand have going for them, for example, very well. It's what India have going for them very well. There's a young man called Mohammad Haris around Pakistan here, who I think…he’s inconsistent but he's exactly what white-ball cricket needs. How can you build a guy like that?”  

Haris made his international debut in 2022 and has played six ODIs and nine T20Is. However, his performances have not been impressive, with low averages of 7.5 in ODIs and 14 in T20Is. His last ODI appearance was against Sri Lanka in 2023, where he managed only three runs.  

Despite his struggles, Bishop believes Haris has the qualities needed in modern cricket and could be a valuable asset if given the right opportunities.