Haris aims to gain peak rhythm through first-class

Pakistan’s premier fast bowler and white-ball specialist Haris Rauf has said that his basic aim is to get his rhythm at the President’s Trophy first-class event and carry it to the international assignment . “The basic aim is to get rhythm here and take it to international circuit so that I could deliver there,” Haris Rauf said. Haris the other day bowled extremely well in the first round of the President’s Trophy. He took 5-34 in the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) while representing Pakistan Television. The match ended in a draw. “There are no such personal goals as we are to play against England and Sri Lanka and it will help prepare for that,” Haris was quick to add. Pakistan will host Sri Lanka and England men’s cricket teams for bilateral and tri-series from October 9 to November 21. Sri Lanka will arrive on October 4 to feature in a three-match T20I series, which will be played in Rawalpindi from October 9-13. Following the T20I series, England will arrive in Pakistan to take part in an ODI tri-series, scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore from October 18-31. Haris said that he wants to take wickets in the four-day event. “Obviously I have come here with a mindset to take wickets. This is just the start and there are a lot of games to come and will keep performing like that for the team.” In the President’s Trophy eight teams are competing at various venues of the country. Each team will play seven matches each with the top two progressing to the five-day final.  Haris said that four-day cricket helps players to work on their grey areas. “Four-day cricket is the best platform where you can work on your weak areas. I am trying to improve my rhythm. The way the wickets and Kookaburra balls are, it's not easy to bowl in such conditions and I am trying to adjust myself,” said the speedster. “As a fast bowler you direly need four day cricket. You work on your line and length and you correct your biomechanics and the way you bowl long spells it develops your bowling muscles. It also tests your patience as a fast bowler and you back yourself on various things. And when you don't get wicket you start thinking how to get it and it's a very good stage to learn that,” said Haris. He said that first-class cricket is a key for players’ development. “First class cricket is very important. Look, Salman Ali Agha posted 300 and when our international players play four-day cricket it benefits youngsters playing around them and when they share dressing room with them. They see the mindset international players play with and so get groomed.”