Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf has been forced out of the remainder of Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 after sustaining a Grade 1 hamstring strain during San Francisco Unicorns’ victory over Texas Super Kings. The franchise confirmed the setback on social media, announcing New Zealand’s Ben Lister as his replacement for the tournament.
The 31-year-old speedster had been in sensational form, topping the MLC wicket-taking charts with 17 scalps in just 8 matches at an economy of 9.08. His injury now casts serious doubt over his availability for Pakistan’s upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, beginning July 20 in Dhaka.
While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has yet to issue an official medical update, the typical recovery timeline for Grade 1 hamstring strains (2-3 weeks) suggests Rauf faces a race against time to be fit. Pakistan’s tour schedule gives little breathing room, with the squad arriving in Bangladesh on July 16 for three T20Is across five days.
The injury blow compounds Pakistan’s pace bowling concerns ahead of a packed summer schedule, including a white-ball series against West Indies in August. Rauf’s absence would leave the pace attack heavily reliant on Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi, with emerging quicks potentially getting opportunities in the Bangladesh series. Medical staff will monitor his recovery closely, with the PCB likely to adopt a cautious approach given the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.