Haris Rauf joins Adelaide Strikers for all of BBL 16 after 33 games for Melbourne Stars

Haris Rauf has signed with the Adelaide Strikers for the whole of the Big Bash League's 16th season (BBL 16, 2026-27), leaving the Melbourne Stars, the only Big Bash club he has played for, ProPakistani reported from the club's announcement.

The 32-year-old played 33 Big Bash matches for the Stars from 2019. He is one of three overseas players in head coach Tim Paine's squad, alongside former England captain Ben Stokes and New Zealand batter Mark Chapman.

Rauf's Big Bash record so far

• Debut season (BBL 09): joined the Stars as an injury replacement for Dale Steyn, took a hat-trick in his first Big Bash match and was named in the Team of the Tournament.
• Last season (BBL 15): 20 wickets, equalling his best return, and a second place in the Team of the Tournament. It was his most successful season since his debut.

That record is why the move matters: the Big Bash is where Rauf first showed his pace to a worldwide audience, before he became a regular in Pakistan's white-ball sides.

What Rauf and Paine said

"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," Rauf said in a statement released by the club. He said he wanted to help the side "push deep into the finals and compete for a championship."

Paine called him "a proven match-winner" and "one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket," and said having every overseas player for the full tournament had been a priority in the Strikers' recruitment.

What it means for Pakistan fans

The Strikers say Rauf is signed for the entire tournament, which is played through the Australian summer, so Pakistan supporters can follow him week by week. Evening matches in Australia start in the early afternoon Pakistan time.

The signing follows a difficult few days for Rauf at home: he was fined 20% of his match fee and handed a fifth demerit point after a row with Will Jacks in Lahore (our story).