His name is Rumman Raees, he can bowl very well

During the semi-final of ICC Champions Trophy a few months back, tt first look, my impression about Rumman Raees was, he belongs to the hard working class group of Karachi. Slightly better than a medium-sized majdoor of Karachi who works hard all day and night to earn the livelihood of his family and still bears a smile on his face indicating, he is happy with life and ready to accept any challenges which come ahead of him. Rumman did accept the challenge of carrying the Pakistan attcak instead of injured Mohammad Amir in the semi-finals on June 14, 2017. Pakistan did not feel the absence of Amir as Rumman delivered the goods with a smile on his face.

Last night, when I saw him to bowl in first ODI against Sri Lanka at Dubai, I was mighty impressed. While the critics were left praising the young sensation Hasan, I could not forget the kind of pressure Rumman generated with the new ball. He hardly believes in containment and the way he comes back after getting hit is the hallmark of a pace bowler with a tough temperament.

Upul Tharanga smoked Rumman for a boundary in the second ball of his first over, but the Karachi lad came back with a fuller length which squared Tharanga in the following delivery. Rumman maintained his attacking line and length and was smoked again on the last ball. In the third ball of fourth over, Niroshan Dickwella, who started the over off with a boundary, poked at a delivery which zipped away from the deck from a fuller length.

In the sixth over, Dinesh Chadndimal was trapped lbw by a late inswinger which nipped-back-in after pitching on a length. It was pich of a delivery. As if Wasim Akram was unleashed in Dubai and many of us were taken back to the golden days of mid and late 80s and 90s when Akram waved such magic with the new ball in Sharjah and on the flat decks of subcontinent. Rumman was menacing with the white ball and his aggressive intent was the thing which a cricket follower always relishes to watch.

Rumman was brought back into the attack in middle overs. He nailed Lahiru Thirimanne with another fuller length ball. Yes, this boy from Karachi is a freak when it comes to dishing out the fuller length balls. Be it with the new or old ball,  Rumman makes it move both ways. Even against England in the ICC Champions Trophy, he was found very effective while bowling that length. Then he can deliver those nip-backers from the back of a length to create doubt in the minds of batsmen. His wrist position is so well, one can only be left praising this boy.  

I wonder, how effective this lad would be in Test cricket? I think he can be a very good asset for Pakistan with the red ball also. But it depends on how fit this boy is as he has a history of being injury prone. But being a lover of Test cricket, I would definitely love to witness Rumman’s fuller length bowling in the Test arena. 

Thank You

Faisal Caesar