Pakistan Super League franchise Lahore Qalandars have struggled in the three editions of the country’s premier T20 tournament. They finished at the bottom of the pile in all three editions, failing to come anywhere close to the silverware.

However, in the inaugural edition of Abu Dhabi T20 tournament, the Lahore franchise received a shot in the arm as their team – made up of players from their development programme – defeated Multiply Titans of South Africa by 15 runs to lift the T20 title at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

The Qalandars scored 148-6 and restricted the South Africa outfit to 133-6. One player stood out with a fiesty performance was Qalandars fast bowler Haris Rauf.

The Rawalpindi fast bowler bowled a great mix of super quick yorkers, full balls and short deliveries during the death overs. He was clocked consistently close to or at 148kph during his spell and troubled the Titans batsmen, including former international Albie Morkel.

His round-arm action saw Rauf generate late swing at high pace, beating the batsmen on a slow pitch.

Rauf comes from that part of Pakistan which produced one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time – Shoaib Akhtar. The 23-year-old considers Akhtar as his role model, along with South African ace Dale Steyn.