Pakistan cricket fans held their breath when Haris Rauf walked off injured during the 37th over against New Zealand. With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 just days away, an injury to Pakistan’s premier wicket-taker is the last thing the team needs.
Thankfully, the PCB has confirmed that his injury isn’t serious, and he is expected to recover in time. But just in case things take a turn for the worse, who steps up if Rauf gets ruled out?
Let’s take a look at three potential replacements.
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Mohammad Ali – A Red-Ball Specialist Who Can Shine in ODIs
A name that might surprise many, Mohammad Ali has been a standout performer in Pakistan’s domestic circuit. While he’s mostly known for his Test exploits, his List A stats are quite decent too.
📊 List A Stats
- Matches: 39
- Wickets: 47
- Average: 31.27
Ali has a five-wicket haul to his name and has shown promise in the shorter formats as well. His recent T20 performances have been eye-catching, picking up 58 wickets in just 32 games.
Pakistan has a history of transitioning T20 stars into ODIs, and Haris Rauf himself followed this path. Ali’s first-class success makes him an interesting option, and he could provide the control and wicket-taking ability Pakistan needs.
Abbas Afridi – A Wicket-Taker Ready for the Big Stage
At just 23 years old, Abbas Afridi has already proven his worth in T20 internationals. He has taken 30 wickets in 18 innings for Pakistan in the shortest format and is a genuine strike bowler.
📊 List A Stats
- Matches: 28
- Wickets: 44
- Average: 23.34
Afridi has already grabbed two five-wicket hauls and a four-fer in List A cricket, proving that he can be a game-changer in ODIs too. He’s skilled with both the new and old ball, which would be a major boost if Haris Rauf is unavailable.
His ability to bowl at any stage of the game and his variety of slower balls, yorkers, and cutters make him a serious contender. If Pakistan needs a bowler who can strike early and also deliver at the death, Afridi is the man.
Aamir Jamal – The All-Round Option Pakistan Might Need
If Pakistan wants a like-for-like pacer, Aamir Jamal ticks many boxes. The selectors already considered him before the squad announcement, but in the end, they went with Faheem Ashraf.
📊 List A Stats
- Matches: 34
- Wickets: 56
- Average: 29.33
Jamal has played three ODIs for Pakistan, making him the only one on this list with international 50-over experience. That alone gives him an edge over the others.
But there’s more – Jamal can bat. He can clear the ropes when needed, adding valuable depth to Pakistan’s lower order. If the selectors want a replacement who can bring both bowling firepower and batting support, Jamal could be their guy.
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Who Should Replace Haris Rauf If Needed?
Each of these bowlers brings something different to the table:
- Mohammad Ali – A steady pacer with solid red-ball experience.
- Abbas Afridi – A wicket-taking machine who thrives in white-ball cricket.
- Aamir Jamal – The all-rounder who can balance the squad.
If Haris Rauf does get ruled out, Pakistan has solid backup options. But let’s hope he recovers in time because having him fit is crucial for Pakistan’s title defense.
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