Haris Rauf, Mohammad Rizwan reach major ODI milestones

In the second game of the three-match series against Australia, pacer Haris Rauf and captain Mohammad Rizwan achieved significant One-Day International (ODI) milestones at Adelaide Oval on Friday.

Following his fifer against the Aussies, Rauf has now claimed 77 wickets in total, the most by any Pakistani bowler in his first 39 ODIs. He has overtaken veteran spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, who took 76 wickets apiece in their first 39 ODIs.

It should be noted that Australia's Mitchell Starc had got 79 wickets in his first 39 ODIs.

The Pakistani right-arm bowler had made his ODI debut on October 30, 2020 and his 77 wickets since then is the highest number of wickets a fast bowler from any full member's team has taken.

Only other pacer to take more wickets than Haris in overall ODIs since then is Bilal Khan, 83, of Oman, an associate member team.

On the flip side, Rizwan joined the club of wicket-keeper batsmen who have grabbed six catches behind the wicket in an ODI. Australia’s Adam Gilchrist, South Africa’s Mark Boucher and Quinton de Kock, England’s Alec Stewart and Matt Prior, Scotland’s Matthew Cross and compatriot Sarfaraz Ahmed are the other cricketers who have achieved this feat.

The 32-year-old missed the opportunity to break the record as he dropped Adam Zampa off Naseem Shah in the 34th over.