Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja believes that tennis ball street cricket is producing talented players in Pakistan. Ramiz used pace bowler Haris Rauf as an example, and called on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to “officially acknowledge this unorthodox system”.
“Haris Rauf is yet another amazing Pakistan fast bowling story of how [the] streets of the country are throwing up great talent via tennis ball street cricket. Time to officially acknowledge this unorthodox system. Want tennis ball bowling to feature in cricket academy curriculum,” Ramiz Tweeted.
#BBL Harris Rauf is yet another amazing Pakistan fast bowling story of how streets of the country are throwing up great talent via tennis ball street cricket. Time to officially acknowledge this unorthodox system. Want tennis ball bowling to feature in Cricket academy curriculum.
— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) January 8, 2020
His comments seem to have come in the wake of Rauf taking a hat-trick in the Melbourne Stars’ six-wicket win over the Sydney Thunder on Wednesday.
Rauf, who was named Man of the Match, removed Matthew Gilkes, Daniel Sams, and captain Callum Ferguson and to finish with figures of 3-23 off his four overs. Rauf has been enjoying a dream run in the BBL 2020. In his debut against the Brisbane Heat, he took figures of 2-20 off his four overs, which included a wicket in his very first delivery of the tournament. He followed that up with a five-wicket haul against the Hobart Hurricanes.
He dismissed Ben McDermott, Macalister Wright, Thomas Rogers, Qais Ahmad, and Nathan Ellis. All in all, he has picked up 13 wickets in four games so far.
The 26-year-old Seamer, who made his first-class debut only last year and is yet to play for Pakistan, also came under the scanner for a bizarre act it is his throat-slashing gesture.
According to a report by Cricket Pakistan, Aaqib Javed, the head coach of the Lahore Qalandars —said Rauf has apologized after that.
“Haris apologized for his inappropriate celebration after I told him that such a thing is against the moral code observed by the Qalandars,” Javed said. “He also vowed to observe restraint in this regard during future matches.”
