Haris Rauf returned with the figures of 0/50 in 3.4 overs during the Asia Cup 2025 final against India.
Pakistan’s T20I captain Salman Ali Agha expressed regret over his decision to use Haris Rauf in the 2025 Asia Cup final against India, admitting the pacer's expensive overs were critical in the defeat.
Agha suggested that continuing with leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed could have altered the outcome, as Rauf struggled during the death overs.
Rauf was expensive during the chase, conceding 17 runs in the 15th over and leaking further runs in the 18th and final over, allowing India to chase down the 147-run target with five wickets in hand and two balls to spare.
Speaking on the ARY Podcast, Agha acknowledged that bringing Rauf back was a major error, with the bowling unit failing to maintain pressure after the spinners had dominated the mid-innings.
"There are a lot of things. One year has passed since I began to captain, and that too in two tournaments. So many mistakes must have happened. If our results weren't good, then mistakes would have happened. In the Asia Cup final, I decided that if I had continued with Abrar, I never know what would have happened to the result. That is one thing I would like to change," Agha said.
"If you see the other side, I gave Haris the ball; he was our main bowler in that match. He couldn't bowl well, couldn't execute his plans properly. I feel that if I continue with Abrar, you never know what would have happened to the game," he added.
During the 2025 Asia Cup final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Abrar Ahmed bagged the key wicket of Sanju Samson for 24(21), finishing with figures of 1/29 in 4 overs. Conversely, Haris Rauf proved to be the most expensive Pakistani bowler in that match, returning with figures of 0/50 in 3.4 overs.
Tilak Varma (69* off 53) and Shivam Dube (33 off 22) starred with the bat for India in the title clash, helping the Men in Blue clinch the continental tournament for the record-extending ninth time.