Yorkshire confirm Haris Rauf for six Championship matches and T20 Blast stint

The Pakistan international is joining the club as part of their partnership with Pakistan Super League franchise Lahore Qalandars

Pakistan international Haris Rauf will be available for Yorkshire's first six matches of the 2022 LV= Insurance County Championship, the club has confirmed.

Rauf, who is joining the club as part of their partnership with Pakistan Super League franchise Lahore Qalandars, is expected to arrive in Leeds next week and be available for the club's season opener against Gloucestershire on April 14. If selected, he could make his home debut against Kent on April 29.

The 28-year-old is also contracted for the first five matches of the T20 Blast, with fellow Pakistan international Shadab Khan also joining the club for the white-ball competition.

Rauf's early season availability in the County Championship is a huge boost to club's seam attack.

^{Rauf in action for Pakistan [Alex Davidson/Getty Images]}

Following the departure of Duanne Olivier earlier this month, the club appeared to be heading into the new season without a genuine fast bowler in their ranks. Rauf, however, plugs this gap having regularly pushed the speed gun beyond 90mph in his career to date.

He also adds depth to the seam department, opening up the possibility of rest and rotation for Yorkshire's regular quartet of Ben Coad, Matthew Fisher, Jordan Thompson and Steven Patterson – something which could prove useful given Coad has been managing a groin injury in pre-season and Fisher may be limited in his availability by England Test commitments.

However, it is worth noting that Rauf has only made four first-class appearances across his professional career, picking up 16 wickets at 24 for Northern in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

With the white ball, he has taken 153 wickets in 114 matches, with franchise appearances for Lahore Qalandars in the PSL and Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash.

Earlier this year, he was instrumental in the Qalandars’ PSL triumph, picking up 16 wickets across the competition, while his ability to nail a yorker makes him an ideal death bowler.

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