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It has not been a World Cup campaign Haris Rauf will look back at fondly. On Indian pitches, Rauf has been very expensive even if he has managed to take wickets. Rauf’s form has been a headache for Pakistan captain Babar Azam as the bowling lineup is yet to fire in unison. Against Bangladesh, Rauf was once again expensive as soon as he was introduced into the attack. So when Rauf managed to get a wicket, Babar could not stop himself and pulled Rauf’s hair while celebrating as if he was telling the pacer this is how you bowl.
Rauf came into the attack in the sixth over. He started off with two over-pitched deliveries and was punished by Litton Das who hit consecutive boundaries. When Rahim got the strike, Rauf bowled another fuller delivery and the wicketkeeper-batter hit him for a boundary. On the final ball of the over, Rauf finally pulled the length back. The good length delivery got the zip and Rahim could not get in the line of the delivery. He edged it to Mohammad Rizwan who took an easy catch.
Babar came running to Rauf as he celebrated Rahim’s wicket. He pulled his hair as he was relieved that the tearaway pacer got back to the good length after conceding 13 runs in the first over. Bangladesh were reduced to 23/3 in the sixth over.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh's top order continued their horrendous run in World Cup 2023. Bangladesh have lost 16 wickets in the first 10 overs of their innings in the World Cup, the most by any side.
Rauf had 10 wickets before the clash against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. He was most expensive against Australia when he picked three wickets but conceded 83 runs from eight overs.
Earlier in the game, Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and opted to bat first. Shaheen Afridi was lethal with the new ball. First, he trapped opener Tanzid Hasan in front of the stumps for a five-ball duck. In his next over, Afridi got the wicket of Najmul Hossain Shanto.
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