'I have no desire to be captain,' says Mohammad Haris

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Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris has made it clear that he is not interested in pursuing captaincy, stating that his main focus is on personal performance and contributing to the team in his assigned role.

Speaking during a media interaction at the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) ongoing skills development camp, the 24-year-old addressed multiple topics — including his recent Big Bash League (BBL) 15 snub and his goals for the future.

“I have no desire to be captain,” Haris said. 

“I prefer focusing on my own performance and fulfilling the role the team expects from me. Everyone saw in the last series how much my game awareness has improved, and I want to build on that,” he added. 

Haris was one of the 74 Pakistani players registered for the BBL 15 player draft, but did not get picked by any franchise. Only seven Pakistani cricketers secured spots in the league.

Responding to the draft outcome, Haris said: “The Big Bash League is a prestigious tournament, and I wish all participating players the best. But at the moment, my priority is national duty. League opportunities come and go, and I’ll only consider playing when I’m fully available and ready.”

The young cricketer praised the current PCB camp for its focused approach, describing it as a valuable opportunity for players to identify and improve on their weaknesses.

“This skills camp is proving to be very helpful in identifying and correcting our mistakes. We are working on the aspects highlighted by the coaching staff and making a conscious effort to improve both individually and as a team,” he further added.

Haris also highlighted areas of his game he’s currently working on, especially enhancing his match awareness and developing a more rounded skillset.

“I’m working hard to improve my game awareness. Every cricketer needs to read the match situation and respond accordingly, and that’s something I’m trying to develop further,” he said. 

“Right now, my focus is on improving my defensive technique, which is crucial across all formats,” Haris added. 

Known for his aggressive batting style, Haris admitted that power-hitting alone is not enough in modern cricket.

“I’m known for hitting fours and sixes, but modern cricket demands a complete game. I’m now putting effort into rotating the strike — working on singles and doubles — to become more consistent,” he added.

Haris also expressed a strong desire to represent Pakistan in Test cricket, revealing that he thoroughly enjoys red-ball cricket and aims to earn a national call-up.

“I’ve played red-ball cricket in the domestic season, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Moving forward, I aim to perform well and earn a place in the national red-ball team,” he noted.

He concluded by acknowledging how this training camp differs from previous ones, especially in its focus on developing key skills for modern cricket.

“Each camp has a different structure, but this one focuses specifically on addressing players’ weaknesses — particularly in areas like bat speed and power-hitting, which are extremely important in today’s game,” Haris concluded.