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"We Want Pakistani Fans": Melbourne Stars Disregards India To Launch 'House of Rauf'

Arnav Chopra

Haris Rauf (Source: @StarsBBL/X.com)Haris Rauf (Source: @StarsBBL/X.com)

In a particularly inspiring move for Pakistani fans, the Big Bash League (BBL) club, Melbourne Stars, is all set to launch a special stand for their premier pacer, Haris Rauf. Ahead of the next season, the Stars are hoping to engage more Pakistani fans during their home matches.

Melbourne Stars Set To Embrace Pakistani Culture

After delivering some stellar performances with the ball for the Melbourne Stars side in the Big Bash League (BBL) over the last four or five years, Pakistani pacer Haris Rauf has made a name for himself in the Victorian city.

Rauf, who has bowled particularly jaw-dropping spells with extreme pace, has earned accolades from the Australian community for his lethal speed.

To celebrate his achievements in the Stars jersey, the Melbourne-based side is set to launch a stand honouring Haris’ commitment by naming it "House of Rauf" at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the side's home matches.

The aim is to particularly engage the South Asian community, especially the Pakistani fans who flock in huge numbers to support their local hero.

Speaking about the initiative, Melbourne Stars' General Manager Max Ebert was excited, as they want to embrace Pakistani culture. With his wonderful run of form in the past years, Haris has been the ambassador for this initiative to promote their culture and bring more fans into the stadium.

“We want Pakistani fans to come, enjoy our matches, and showcase their heritage. Haris has been an incredible ambassador for the Stars, and we love having the passionate support from the Pakistani community that he has played a huge role in generating,” Max Ebert said.

Haris Rauf's Influential Performances In Stars' Jersey

Rauf, who has been associated with the Stars since the 2019-2020 season, has since then featured in 22 games for the Melbourne-based side, picking up 36 wickets at an average of 16.33 while bowling at an economy of just 7.75, with a five-wicket haul to his name.

According to Ebert, 'House of Rauf' will feature exquisite food, music, and a community atmosphere for the Pakistani fans, creating an outstanding, vibrant match-day experience with multicultural diversity.

The fact that Cricket Australia has been aligning with a multicultural action plan, which includes a strategy to engage different communities and promote diversity in Australian cricket circles, is related to this.

As for the upcoming BBL season, which begins on December 14th, Stars will open their campaign against the defending champions, Hobart Hurricanes, on December 18th.