I used to sell Nimco for school fees: Haris Rauf

Rawalpindi: An inspiring documentary is released that sheds light on the touching journey of national cricketer Haris Rauf.

The documentary, produced by leading cricket website ESPNcricinfo, offers a glimpse into Rauf's early life, his humble beginnings in Rawalpindi.

In the documentary, Haris Rauf opens up about his arduous childhood, where he, as the eldest of seven siblings, faced daunting odds.

His father, a welder, toiled tirelessly to make ends meet, barely providing for his family through his modest earnings.

Rauf reminisces about the days when he would change into his cricket attire at home, head over to a friend's house, and borrow clothes and shoes just to play table ball cricket.

These were the early steps of a journey that would eventually lead him to national stardom.

The documentary takes viewers on a visual tour of Haris Rauf's former home in Rawalpindi and the streets where he honed his cricketing skills.

Reflecting on his upbringing, Rauf shares poignant memories of living with his father and uncle in a cramped house.

After his uncles got married and required separate rooms, Rauf and his family had to make do with sleeping in the kitchen at times.

Rauf's indomitable spirit shines through as he reveals his innovative approach to financing his education.

He recalls selling snacks (nimko) in the market every Sunday to cover his school fees.

As he progressed to university, the financial burden increased, requiring 70 to 80 thousand rupees every six months.

To meet these expenses, he turned to tape-ball cricket, a game that brought him decent earnings, often reaching 2 to 2.5 lakhs per month.

This income helped him achieve his dream of paying for his education and fulfilling his mother's aspiration of owning a house.

Today, Haris Rauf proudly owns a house and a car, symbols of his hard-earned success.

However, when he acquired the car, his father's emotional reaction was a poignant reminder of the family's journey from humble beginnings.

Rauf's father was moved to tears, expressing his disbelief that he did not even deserve to sit in such a vehicle.

In closing, Haris Rauf emphasizes that his family's happiness is his true source of pride and happiness.

He snuck into an open cricket trial and clocked 150+ kmph, eventually becoming one of Pakistan's frontline fast bowlers ?

Watch 'Haris Rauf: Zero to 150', now on ESPNcricinfo ? @HarisRauf14

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 1, 2023