PAK vs IRE: Haris Rauf reveals Team Pakistan doesn't care about T20 World Cup Super-8 qualification calculations

The Pakistan cricket team may have returned to winning ways in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024, but they are still in danger of being eliminated from the tournament. After losing their first two matches, Pakistan made a comeback with a stunning seven-wicket win over Canada on June 11.

With this massive win, the Men in Green jumped to the third spot in the Group A points table, but still, India and the USA are leading the chart. Now, they would be praying that Team India beat the co-hosts, the USA in their third T20 World Cup 2024 match and that rain won’t dash their Super-8 hopes.

Pakistan's Super 8 hopes in balance as Haris Rauf focuses on beating Ireland

If the USA somehow manages to beat India in today’s game or the rain plays spoilsport, the journey of the Pakistan team in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 will end with their last Group A game against Ireland on June 16 in Florida.

However, the USA will have another chance to give Pakistan a heart attack when they face Ireland on June 14 in their last group game. However, Pakistani pacer Haris Rauf has stressed that his team’s focus remains solely on their performance and not on the calculations surrounding their chances of qualifying for the Super 8 in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.

Rauf dismissed any concerns about those external factors, saying the Pakistan team is only concentrating on how to play and win their remaining matches. Rauf highlighted the importance of maintaining the winning momentum gained after beating Canada, saying this win sets a positive tone for the team in the ongoing tournament.

We will play good cricket in the future: Haris Rauf

The star pacer also expressed confidence in the Pakistan team's ability to perform well in their remaining matches and said that their primary goal is to beat Ireland and let the results take care of themselves.

Haris Rauf said in the post-match press conference: “No, no, nothing like that going on in our mind. We're focusing only on our match and how to play. If we win our match, then we will accept whatever happens. Yes, you know that winning is so important. You have to set a tone in any tournament, we won the match, our focus is on our games, and hopefully we win the next match. And then whatever happens, if we qualify, then God willingly, we will qualify and we will play good cricket in the future.”

With impressive figures of 4-0-26-2 against Canada, Rauf became the second Pakistani bowler after Shadab Khan to pick up 100 wickets in the men’s T20Is. Rauf also became the fastest pacer to reach the 100-wicket milestone in the shortest format of the game.

However, Rauf said that he hasn’t set any goals in the format but would love to have at least 200-300 wickets to his name. He signed off by saying, “I don't have any goal. I can do 200-300 wickets, but I don’t think there is anything bigger than taking even one wicket for Pakistan.”