Melbourne Stars GM eyes Haris Rauf vs Babar Azam showdown in BBL 15

Melbourne Stars General Manager Max Abbott has made it clear that retaining Haris Rauf for BBL Season 15 was a top priority, revealing that the franchise fended off strong interest from rival teams to keep the Pakistani speedster on their roster.

In a candid statement following the BBL 15 overseas draft, Abbott confirmed that Adelaide Strikers had targeted Rauf but were forced to back off after the Stars refused to release him.

“Haris Rauf is a fan favourite and a valuable asset to our team,” Abbott said. “We knew other teams were interested in him, but we weren’t willing to let him go.”

Abbott lauded Rauf’s impact beyond the field, calling him a key figure in the dressing room and a role model for younger bowlers.

“He’s not just a match-winner. He’s someone other bowlers learn from. That’s why keeping him was non-negotiable for us,” he stated.

But all eyes are now on the mouth-watering clash against the Sydney Sixers, who have signed Babar Azam as a pre-draft marquee pick. Abbott didn’t shy away from the hype surrounding the Pakistan stars’ face-off.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“We’re excited to see Haris Rauf take on Babar at the MCG. I’m sure he has a few plans up his sleeve to exploit Babar’s weaknesses,” said Abbott.

He also acknowledged the influence of the Pakistani community in Melbourne, calling Rauf’s popularity a big plus for the team’s fan engagement.

“The Pakistan community is huge here, and it’s great to have their favourite player in the Stars colours. He brings excitement and pride with every appearance.”

Haris Rauf, who is currently featuring in MLC 2025 for the San Francisco Unicorns, has been with the Stars since 2019.

In 22 BBL matches, he has bagged 36 wickets at an economy of 7.75, and remains one of the most dangerous bowlers at the death.

Rauf’s retention comes amid a strong Pakistan presence in BBL 15, with Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan and Hasan Ali all picked up by various franchises during the draft.

READ: Three Pakistani players join Rangpur Riders for Global Super League 2025