The Adelaide Strikers are thrilled to announce the signing of Pakistan speedster Haris Rauf for the upcoming KFC BBL|16 season.
Known for his extreme pace and fiery celebrations, the right-arm quick joins Adelaide after five seasons with the Melbourne Stars, where he claimed 56 wickets, including career-best BBL figures of 5/27 against the Hobart Hurricanes.
The Pakistani superstar joins Ben Stokes and Mark Chapman in being available for the entire tournament.
Rauf took the Big Bash by storm in BBL|09 after replacing South African great Dale Steyn due to injury.
He made an immediate impact on the competition, claiming 20 wickets across the tournament, including a stunning hat-trick against the Sydney Thunder at the MCG.
His breakout campaign saw him named in the BBL Team of the Tournament, an honour he repeated in BBL|14 after claiming 18 wickets to win the Golden Arm as the competition's leading wicket-taker.
Regularly bowling in excess of 145 km/h, Rauf has established himself as one of the most dangerous white-ball bowlers in world cricket.
On the international stage, Rauf was a standout performer at both the 2021 and 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cups, finishing among the tournament's leading wicket-takers.
He is also no stranger to Adelaide Oval. In 2024, Rauf played a key role in Pakistan's historic ODI series victory in Australia, claiming outstanding figures of 5/29 at Adelaide Oval as Pakistan secured its first ODI series win on Australian soil in 22 years.
During the 2024 T20 World Cup, he became the fastest Pakistan bowler to reach 100 T20 International wickets, bringing up the milestone in just 71 matches.
This week, Rauf and Shadab Khan combined for an unbeaten 89-run 10th-wicket partnership against England, setting a new record for Pakistan's highest 10th-wicket stand in a successful men's ODI run chase.
Rauf also played a pivotal role in Lahore Qalandars' back-to-back Pakistan Super League titles, claiming 16 wickets during the 2022 campaign and 17 wickets in 2023. Across eight PSL seasons, he has taken 95 wickets, with best figures of 4/23.
Adelaide Strikers coach Tim Paine believes Rauf's experience, pace and match-winning ability will make him a fan favourite at Adelaide Oval.
"Haris is a proven match-winner who has performed at the highest level in international cricket and franchise competitions around the world,” he said.
"Strikers fans are going to love watching him steam in at Adelaide Oval. He's one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket and has the ability to change a game in an instant.
"We're thrilled to welcome Haris to Adelaide for the entire tournament. He's an exciting player, a fierce competitor and someone who will bring plenty of energy to our group.
"Having all of our international players available for the entire tournament was a key priority throughout our off season and we believe it will be a significant advantage for our side.”
Rauf said he was excited to join the Strikers and play in front of a packed Adelaide Oval this summer.
"I can't wait to get started with the Adelaide Strikers. Adelaide Oval is one of the great cricket venues in the world and I've always enjoyed playing there.
"The Strikers have a strong squad with world-class players like Ben Stokes, Matt Short and Mark Chapman, so I'm really excited about the opportunity to play alongside them.
"We've got a talented group and I'm looking forward to contributing wherever I can to help the team push deep into the finals and compete for a championship."
An exciting summer of Big Bash cricket is just around the corner, with early bird tickets now available through Ticketek.
With demand expected to be high, fans can guarantee their place at Adelaide Oval by purchasing an Adelaide Strikers membership through the Adelaide Strikers website.
Full fixture
16 December 2026 – Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers – Manuka Oval18 December 2026 – Melbourne Stars v Adelaide Strikers – MCG
23 December 2026 – Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Thunder – Adelaide Oval
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28 December 2026 – Brisbane Heat v Adelaide Strikers – The Gabba
31 December 2026 – Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Stars – Adelaide Oval
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3 January 2027 – Sydney Sixers v Adelaide Strikers – Manuka Oval
6 January 2027 – Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Renegades – Adelaide Oval
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9 January 2027 – Hobart Hurricanes v Adelaide Strikers – University of Tasmania Stadium
12 January 2027 – Adelaide Strikers v Hobart Hurricanes – Adelaide Oval
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16 January 2027 – Adelaide Strikers v Perth Scorchers – Adelaide Oval
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