Pakistan star fast bowler Haris Rauf has disclosed his first impression when he first saw Rohit Sharma in the T20 World Cup in October-November last year in Australia. In his recent interview with Cricwick, Rauf named Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav as his most-priced wickets in the T20 WC. “When I saw Rohit Sharma during our national anthem, I said to myself I have to get his wicket,” he said. After smashing a giant six at the end of Pakistan's innings, Rauf took the vital wickets of India captain Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, the world's No.1-ranked T20 batter. India pulled off a sensational four-wicket win against Pakistan in their T20 World Cup match. Chasing a target of 160, India were in deep trouble at 31/4 after the PowerPlay. However, cometh the hour and cometh the man – Virat Kohli, who scored an unbeaten 82 off 53 balls to help his team cross the finishing line in a thrilling encounter at the MCG. Rauf also shared his transition from a tape ball cricketer to a professional cricketer. Rauf said he used to play tape ball cricket and people used to pay him Rs. 10 to 15 thousand per over which he used to manage his needs, paying his fees and savings. "Gradually started playing cricket, then I started earning match fees for the tape ball matches that used to play. I used to charge per over. People used to pay me 10 to fifteen thousand per over. And that is how I used to make ends meet. I used to send some home, paying my university fees and save some as well, ” he said. Watch Video- When asked how he decided to play professional cricket, he added, “I never really thought of it, I had a friend who brought me along with him to trials. He was the one who wanted to give trials and at that time I didn’t have spikes. I borrowed spikes from someone and then I bowled in the trials. There I realised how fast I bowl.” Haris, who has played 18 ODIs, 57 T20Is and one Test so far for Pakistan, also commented on the challenges he faced when he started playing professional cricket including fitness issues. “It was difficult when I went to Australia and got a contract there. Our PDP team plays the Quin series there. I was playing against Sydney Thunders and bowled just two overs, there was a cricket club director present there. He offered me to play a session for them for six months. I talked to Aqib Bhai, he advised me to stay and play for them”. 29-year-old Rauf also shared tips to stay stress-free in the social media-driven world, “If you are playing a tournament, then the best way is to avoid social media. The more you avoid social media, the more relaxed you will be. Whether your performance has been good and you see what others here said about you that will affect you. And if your performance isn’t good then people will criticize you and it’ll also affect you. Just avoid social media during the tournament to stay stress-free”.
