Watch: Haris Rauf injures bowling arm, head while taking catch during PSL 2024 last-ball thriller

Haris Rauf is one of the rare breed of fast bowlers who are good fielders as well. On Saturday, February 24, during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 clash between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings, the veteran Pakistani pacer injured his bowling arm and head while taking a brilliant catch.

The incident happened on the penultimate delivery of the match as Karachi needed one run to win off two balls. Hasan Ali tried to loft left-arm spinner Ahsan Bhatti for a maximum but miscued his lofted stroke. Rauf rushed in from long-off and took the catch with a tumbling effort. However, he landed on his bowling arm and his head thudded onto the turf as he fell. The right-arm pacer immediately clutched his head and was grimacing in pain.

He lost control of the ball after falling. The third umpire was called in to check whether he had completed the catch. After watching the replays, third umpire Aleem Dar deemed that it was a fair catch. However, Kings captain Shan Masood didn't seem to agree with the decision as he was quite animated on the boundary ropes after the decision was made.

Rauf walked off the field after writhing in pain. Later, he was spotted with a sling around his bowling arm. The extent of his injury is yet to be revealed but things looked pretty worrisome from the outside.

After Rauf's excellent effort sent Hasan packing, Mir Hamza walked out to the crease with a run being needed off the last ball. The southpaw managed to get the toe-end of his bat to connect with the ball and it went past the wicketkeeper to facilitate the single. With this run, Karachi won the riveting encounter by two wickets.

This was the fourth consecutive loss in PSL 2024 for the Lahore Qalandars, who are the defending champions. Rauf's injury will only make things tougher for them as they look to bounce back in the tournament.

Meanwhile, the Kings won their second game in a row after facing a heavy defeat against Multan Sultans in their opening encounter.

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