Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf make strong starts in President’s Trophy

Pakistan’s fast-bowling stars Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf made their presence felt in the opening round of the President’s Trophy Grade-I, delivering impressive spells in domestic first-class cricket.

Shaheen, returning to red-ball cricket after a lengthy absence, produced a four-wicket performance for Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) against Ghani. The left-arm pacer bowled 14.5 overs, conceded 61 runs and claimed four wickets, giving his side an important contribution with the ball.

The outing marked a significant return to domestic first-class cricket for Shaheen, who had not played red-ball cricket at the domestic level for several years. The Pakistan ODI captain had been named in KRL’s squad for the President’s Trophy, with the competition providing him an opportunity to regain his rhythm and workload in the longer format.

Shaheen’s return is particularly important given his status as one of Pakistan’s leading fast bowlers. The 26-year-old has made it clear that red-ball cricket remains a priority, making his participation in the President’s Trophy an important step in his comeback to the longer format.

Meanwhile, Haris Rauf also produced a standout performance for Pakistan Television (PTV) against Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL).

Rauf bowled a sensational spell, finishing with five wickets for 34 runs. His performance included a remarkable burst of three wickets in just three overs, helping him register his third five-wicket haul in first-class cricket in only his 14th match.

The performance highlighted a different side of Rauf’s bowling, with the white-ball specialist showing that he can also make an impact when given an extended spell in red-ball cricket. PTV are among the eight teams competing in this season’s President’s Trophy, which features 28 four-day matches before the final in October.

The strong performances from Shaheen and Rauf will be encouraging for Pakistan, particularly with the country continuing to search for greater depth and consistency in its fast-bowling department.

For Shaheen, the focus will be on building his workload and rediscovering his rhythm in first-class cricket. For Rauf, his five-wicket haul provides further evidence that his development as a red-ball bowler should not be overlooked.

With both pacers now getting valuable domestic exposure, the President’s Trophy could prove an important platform for Pakistan’s fast bowlers to strengthen their red-ball credentials.