Pakistan legend Wasim Akram slammed pacer Haris Rauf after his disastrous spell against India in the Asia Cup final on September 28, labelling the bowler a run-conceding machine whenever he faces India in any tournament. India completed their third win against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup, this time in the final on Sunday, lifting their ninth title, with Rauf once again one of the bowlers they attacked the most.
Haris Rauf was under the spotlight as India faced Pakistan, but this time it was not for gestures or controversial celebrations. Instead, he leaked 50 runs in just 3.5 overs and conceded the winning runs to Rinku Singh, sealing India’s crown. Speaking to the official broadcasters after the match, Wasim Akram criticised Rauf for conceding so many runs on such a big occasion, highlighting his repeated struggles against India. Akram also pointed out that Rauf’s refusal to play red-ball cricket shows no signs of improvement, something the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should address.
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“He’s unfortunately a run machine as a bowler, and especially against India. I’m not criticizing him. The whole country’s criticizing him, and he doesn’t play red-ball cricket. He’s not going to improve. If he’s not going to play, you don’t want a player in your team who refuses to play red-ball cricket. At least play four or five first-class games,” Akram told Sony Sports.
“The control is not there because he doesn’t play red-ball cricket. PCB has to sit down and think, if you’re not playing red-ball cricket, thank you very much,” he added.
Backing Akram’s claims, Rauf has conceded 231 runs in seven T20Is against India at an average of 25.66 and an economy rate of 8.66. His disastrous spell against India in this Asia Cup final only added to his list of forgettable performances in these fixtures, including the 2022 T20 World Cup when Virat Kohli targeted Rauf, conceding 15 runs in the 19th over and paving the way for India’s 160-run chase.
“You want to improve your length, and his run-up-he’s not the smoothest. I was talking to Waqar (Younis), and I asked, how come he hasn’t fixed the run-up in the last four or five years since he’s been playing? He said he doesn’t play red-ball cricket,” Akram added.
Cut to the Asia Cup 2025 final, it was Tilak Verma and Shivam Dube who attacked Rauf, hitting him for 17 runs in the 15th over, which changed the complexion of the game. From needing 64 off 36, India now required 47 off 30. In the 18th over, Rauf conceded 13 runs, undoing the efforts of Shaheen Afridi, who had only conceded 6 runs in the previous over. The final blow came in the last over, when India needed 10 runs to win; a six from Tilak Verma and a boundary from Rinku Singh, who came in after Dube’s dismissal, ended the game and secured India’s ninth Asia Cup.
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