Haris Rauf joins Adelaide Strikers for BBL 2026-27

Haris Rauf has signed a contract with the Adelaide Strikers for the upcoming BBL season. He joins Ben Stokes and Mark Chapman as overseas picks who can play all season.

"Haris is a proven match-winner who has performed at the highest level in international cricket and franchise competitions around the world," Strikers coach Tim Paine said in a club statement. "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 are thrilled to have Haris stay with us throughout the tournament in Adelaide. He is a dynamic player who also competes with ferocity and will bring a lot of energy to our group. We believe that having all of our international players available for the entire tournament will be a significant advantage for our team. This was a top priority during our off-season.

Since 2019-20, Rauf has played for Melbourne Stars in five BBL seasons. Last season he was the top wicket-taker with 20 wickets in 11 innings. During his lengthy time with the club, he appeared in 33 games and took 56 wickets.

"I can't wait to join the Adelaide Strikers. "I've always enjoyed playing at Adelaide Oval, which is one of the best cricket venues in the world," Rauf stated. "I'm really excited about the opportunity to play alongside the Strikers because the team is strong and includes world-class players like Ben Stokes, Matt Short, and Mark Chapman.

"I'm looking forward to contributing wherever I can to help the team push deep into the finals and compete for a championship," said "We've got a talented group."

Rauf took 5 for 29 against Australia in his only ODI at the Strikers' home ground, the Adelaide Oval, in November 2024, resulting in a nine-wicket victory for Pakistan. Additionally, during the 2022 T20 World Cup, Rauf's one and only T20I appearance at the venue was against Bangladesh, where he went 1 for 21 in a five-wicket victory.

Strikers have only won the BBL title once, in 2017-18. They failed to make the playoffs last season after finishing sixth. The BBL seasons begins on December and Strikers' first game is against Sydney Thunder on December 16 in Canberra.