PCB To Punish Haris Rauf For Opting Out Of Australia Tests: Reports

Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf’s central contract with the national cricket team could be revised after he opted out from playing the Test series against Australia, as per PTI. Pakistan will be playing a three-match Test series against the Aussies down under. 

Pakistan’s newly appointed chief selector Wahab Riaz named an 18-member squad for the upcoming three-Test tour of Australia including call-ups for 21-year-old batter Saim Ayub and 23-year-old pacer Khurram Shahzad.

Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead the pace attack with Naseem Shah not picked for the series as he is still recovering from his injury. Rauf pulled out from the Test series reportedly to play in the Bigh Bas League (BBL). 

Sources close to PCB said that they are unhappy with the behavior of the pacer who after initially agreeing to play the series pulled out at the last moment citing reasons of fitness and workload. Also, the pacer might be denied permission to take part in the BBL.

Also Read: “On What Performance…”: Aaqib Javed Bashes PCB For Forcing Haris Rauf To Play Australia Tests

“I and the Director of Pakistan team, Muhammad Hafeez, we went and spoke to him in detail and told him that both the captain and coach wanted him (Haris) to play in Australia as he was an impact bowler and we assured him he would not bowl more then 10-12 overs in a day in Australia,” Wahab had said at his press conference while announcing the squad for Australia.

“We also spoke to the team physio and trainer and they said Haris had no fitness issues and there would be no problem with him in Australia,” Wahab said further. 

Sources further said that the Pakistan pacer was perhaps trying to play games with the board and the support staff after not directly coming out with a denial. They further said that if Haris Rauf is looking to concentrate on his white-ball career, his contract will likely be revised. 

“There has been discussion that if Haris is only focused on white-ball cricket then the central contact given to him also needs to be reviewed since he was placed in category B which carries a monthly retainer of over 4 million rupees plus enhanced match fees, bonuses and a share in the PCB’s share of ICC revenues. “A NOC for playing in the Big Bash could also be withheld by the board,” the source added.

Pakistan Squad: Shan Masood (c), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi

Also Read: PCB Not To Take Action Against Haris Rauf Despite Opting Out Of Australia Tests