In a significant blow to the San Francisco Unicorns, star Pakistani fast bowler Haris Rauf has been ruled out of the remainder of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 playoffs due to a hamstring injury. New Zealand’s left-arm pacer Ben Lister has been named as his immediate replacement.
Hamstring Injury Sidelines Rauf
Haris Rauf sustained a Grade 1 hamstring strain during the Unicorns’ recent league stage match against the Texas Super Kings. An MRI scan confirmed the injury, rendering him unavailable for the crucial playoff fixtures.
Rauf had been in stellar form throughout the tournament, leading the wicket-taking charts with 17 wickets in eight matches, making his absence a considerable setback for the San Francisco Unicorns as they head into the business end of the competition.
Lister Steps In as Replacement
To fill the void left by Rauf, the San Francisco Unicorns have swiftly brought in New Zealand’s Ben Lister. The 29-year-old left-arm pacer, who has represented New Zealand in 12 T20 Internationals, has been training with the Unicorns squad for the past two weeks, ensuring he is match-fit and ready for immediate selection. Lister’s inclusion is expected to provide valuable depth and international experience to the Unicorns’ pace attack.
Doubts Over Pakistan’s Bangladesh Series
The injury to Haris Rauf also casts a shadow over his participation in Pakistan’s upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, scheduled to begin on July 20. While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has yet to issue an official statement regarding his availability, reports suggest that Rauf is unlikely to recover in time for the series. His absence would be a significant loss for the national team, given his recent red-hot form. The Pakistan squad is set to commence its training camp on July 8 in Karachi before departing for Bangladesh on July 16.
