San Francisco Unicorns’ fast bowler Haris Rauf has been ruled out of the rest of Major League Cricket 2025 after suffering a hamstring injury during the team’s match against Texas Super Kings on July 4.
The franchise has brought in New Zealand left-arm fast bowler Ben Lister as Rauf’s replacement. Lister already featured in the Unicorns’ final league game on July 6 against Los Angeles Knight Riders, a match they lost and missed out on a top-two finish.
According to an MLC statement, Rauf sustained the injury while fielding during the eighth over of Texas Super Kings’ chase. He had bowled just one over in the match before he chased down a shot from Romario Shepherd at mid-off and left the field clutching his hamstring. An MRI scan later confirmed a Grade 1 strain, ruling him out of the playoffs.
Rauf was the joint-highest wicket-taker in MLC 2025 at the time of his injury, with 17 wickets to his name. His absence is a big blow for the Unicorns, who finished third on the points table with seven wins in ten matches. They will now face MI New York in the Eliminator in Dallas on Thursday.
The injury also affects Pakistan’s plans, as Rauf has been withdrawn from their squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh starting on July 20.
Ben Lister, who had been training with the Unicorns before his debut, struggled on his MLC bow. He conceded 43 runs in just 2.1 overs against the Knight Riders. Despite that, he is expected to play a key role as the Unicorns push for a place in the final stages of the tournament.
