Haris Rauf ruled out of tri-nation series, replacement named

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named young fast bowler Akif Javed as the replacement for injured fast bowler Haris Rauf in the ongoing tri-nation ODI series. According to sources, the 24-year-old from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be part of the Pakistan squad for the next two matches in the series.

The decision regarding Akif Javed's participation in the upcoming match against South Africa, scheduled for Wednesday at National Stadium, will be made by the team management. 

Standing at 6 feet 1 inch, Akif Javed caught the attention of selectors with his strong performances in the Bangladesh Premier League. He made his first-class debut in 2019 and was part of the Balochistan squad for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. The right-handed batsman and left-arm fast bowler also featured in the National T20 Cup that same year. 

In 2020, Akif represented Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), and the following year, he was part of the Pakistan Shaheens squad for their tour of Sri Lanka. Akif has also had the honor of representing both Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings in the PSL.

With his inclusion in the tri-nation series, Akif Javed could potentially make his One-Day International (ODI) debut for Pakistan.