Srinagar: Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf has opened up on his struggles before becoming a cricketing star.
Haris was found by the Lahore Qalandars Players Development Program (PDP) in Gujranwala after clocking 92.3mph in the trials.
“After matriculation, I used to work in the market selling snacks [nimco] on Sundays to be able to pay my fees. The rest of the week, I would attend school and academy,” Haris revealed in an interview with ESPNCricinfo.
“When I enrolled in university, my father was not earning enough to be able to pay my fees and I couldn’t afford it too but by playing tape-ball cricket I would easily manage my fees,” he maintained it was him who paid Rs70,000 to 80,000 per semester.
“The boys who play tape-ball professionally in Pakistan, easily make around 2-2.5 lakh per month. I used to earn that and would give to my mother but I never told my father about earning this much,” he maintained.
Meanwhile, Haris emphasised money was always a big struggle for his family during his teenage years.
“My father has three brothers and all lived together. My father had one big room and when my uncles got married, my father gave his room to his brothers. Eventually, we reached the point where we were sleeping in the kitchen,” the 29-year-old added.