'Used to sell snacks in market to pay my fees' - Haris Rauf recalls struggle before rise in international cricket

Haris Rauf is an extremely vital part of the Pakistan squad in the upcoming ODI World Cup. His sheer pace has troubled the batters in the past and he would be aiming to repeat the same to help his team win the marquee tournament in India. While Rauf is now first-choice member of the Pakistan team, life was not a fairytale for him all along.

Recalling the struggle in his early days, the 29-year-old has revealed that he used to work in the market on Sundays and sell snacks to pay his college fees as his parents weren’t fortunate enough to pay the fees. Later on, the pacer started playing tape-ball cricket and used to earn around 2-2.5 lakhs per month. Hence, a lot of his financial problems were solved and he used to help his parents with that money as well.

“After matriculation, I used to work in the market selling snacks (nimco) on Sundays to be able to pay my fees. The rest of the week, I will attend school and academy. When I enrolled in university, my father was not earning enough to be able to pay my fees and I couldn't afford it too but by playing tape-ball cricket I would easily manage my fees,” Rauf was quoted on ESPNcricinfo’s documentary ‘The Incredible rise of Haris Rauf’.

“The boys, who play tape-ball professionally in Pakistan, easily make around 2-2.5 lakh per month. I used to earn that and would give it to my mother but I never told my father about earning this much,” he added.

The transition from tape-ball cricket to international level was not an easy one but Rauf with his sheer hard work made it possible. He made his debut in 2020 and since then, he has been a force to reckon with in international cricket. The cricketer was incredibly valuable during the recently concluded Asia Cup before a discomfort in his right flank ruled him out of the tournament. However, he is completely fit for the ODI World Cup and will be gunning to help his team win another world title.