Shoaib Malik Urges Pakistan to maintain Winning Combination, Identifies Key Role for Haris Rauf Ahead of Asia Cup
LAHORE, Pakistan – Veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik has advised Pakistan to largely retain the successful batting combination that secured their recent tri-nation T20I series victory against Afghanistan and the UAE, specifically highlighting the optimal batting position for young batter Mohammad Haris. Malik believes Haris is most effective when utilized during the powerplay overs, advocating for a consistent top-order role.
Malik emphasized the importance of a balanced batting order, suggesting a “left-hander for left-hander, right-hander for right-hander” approach. He proposed that if a right-handed opener falls, Haris Rauf should come in at number three, with Fakhar Zaman adjusting his position accordingly.
“Look, you recently won the tri-nation series, and the combination that helped you win should largely remain intact. It needs to be simplified…The pattern should be left-hander for left-hander, right-hander for right-hander,” Malik explained.
The 43-year-old pointed to Haris’s recent performances, noting his success when batting at number three. He cautioned that pushing Haris lower down the order diminishes his impact, as he is “not a natural power-hitter and isn’t suited to that role.”
“If that doesn’t happen, and the left-hander gets out with fakhar coming in, you still need to ensure Haris bats during the powerplay. Lower down the order, he becomes ineffective,” Malik stated.
During the Champions Cup tournament, Malik focused on haris’s mental approach rather than technical skills.”Mentoring is not just about telling someone what to do. A mentor should first listen to the player’s mindset…Our players don’t need as much technical correction as they need mental clarity,” he said, revealing he encouraged Haris to experiment with different approaches to understand the process.
Haris Rauf has represented Pakistan in 28 T20Is, scoring 424 runs at a strike rate of 137.21, including one century. However, his recent form has been inconsistent, managing only 54 runs in his last 11 T20I innings, with scores including 4, 0, 5 against Bangladesh in July, 6, 4, 2 against the West Indies in August, and 15, 1, 1, 14, and 2 during the tri-series.
Despite Haris’s struggles, Pakistan secured victory in the tri-nation series, defeating Afghanistan in the final.
Pakistan squad for Asia Cup 2025: Salman Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, shaheen shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.
