'Main aim was to refine my red-ball skills' - Haris Rauf on why he chose to play County cricket

Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf is looking to represent his country in the longest format of the game and that is the reason he opted for a county season, he has said. Yorkshire has roped in the 28-year-old Pakistan pacer for the County Championship and T20 Blast.

Haris is currently in England, representing his county side. The pacer has picked up 15 wickets so far in four matches at an average of 31.53. He said that the high standard of County Cricket will help him in becoming a better red-ball player in the future.

“The excellent standard of County Cricket in England is well known to all around the world, but for me, the main aim was to refine my skills in red-ball cricket,” Haris told PakPassion.net.

The experience of playing four-day cricket here will prove to be useful for me to take into international cricket: Haris Rauf

“So, the idea has been to learn how to bowl with more control and get a good understanding of what I need to adjust in my technique to bowl well in English conditions. I am also hoping that the experience of playing four-day cricket here will prove to be useful for me to take into international cricket, whenever the need arises,” he added.

Haris is an integral part of the white ball set-up for Pakistan since 2020. He has 19 wickets in 11 ODIs while 42 scalps in 35 T20Is. However, he is yet to make his debut for Pakistan in the whites. He said that just like every other cricketer, he also aspires to represent his country in the longest format of the game.

“Every cricket player aspires to represent their country in what is considered the highest form of the game which is Test cricket. There is no doubt in my mind that I am learning a lot by playing County cricket as the experience I get here will be crucial for my future aspirations to play Test cricket. The sort of things I have picked up so far and what is crucial for my development in red-ball cricket is centred around building up patience and assessing conditions and the opposition which will help in taking wickets, in different conditions.”