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Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf opened up about the tough times he had to endure to reach a stage as big as the ODI World Cup, where he is expected to make his debut in their opening match of the tournament against the Netherlands on Friday, October 6.
The 29-year-old fast bowler used to play tape-ball cricket as he tried to find other ways of earning money for paying his fees for education. He also had to sell snacks in the market to take care of his daily needs.
"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'.
But being involved in tape-ball cricket served as valuable preparation for the challenges he would later face in his cricketing career. The fast bowler revealed that his family experienced significant struggles, to the point where he had to sleep in the kitchen.
"Those who play tape-ball cricket professionally in Pakistan can easily earn around 2-2.5 lakh per month. I used to earn that and would hand it over to my mother, but I never disclosed this to my father. My father has three brothers, and they all lived together. As my uncles got married, my father gave his room to them. Eventually, our situation reached a point where we were sleeping in the kitchen," Rauf elaborated.
Rauf is now poised to represent Pakistan in his first 50-over World Cup. Having already participated in two editions of the T20 World Cup, he is no stranger to the grand stage. He has the experience of playing in a major final as well, having played a big part in Pakistan's run to the final in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
In his 28 ODIs thus far, Rauf has taken 53 wickets at an economy rate of 5.68, including four four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul.
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