The fast bowler Haris Rauf of Pakistan recently disclosed that he considered giving up on his career in cricket after receiving backlash for choosing not to play in the December 2023 Test series against Australia. The 30-year-old claimed that the hate he encountered depressed him, but he decided to reverse his decision after consulting with friends and family.
Notably, after talking with team director Mohammad Hafeez and top selector Wahab Riaz, Haris Rauf decided not to play in the just finished three-match Test series against Australia. Even more, Riaz revealed that the speedster had originally declared his intention to participate in the series but had now changed his mind.
Some accounts, however, stated that he never committed to playing in the series. Haris Rauf is presently playing for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League 2023–24 and cites workload management as his excuse for missing the crucial tour.
During the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, the speedster even confided in former head coach Mickey Arthur about his workload issues. Despite being the most expensive bowler of the cricket spectacular, the right-arm seamer had a disappointing season, conceding 533 runs from nine innings and taking 16 wickets at an economy rate of 6.74 and average of 33.31.
In his lone Test, Haris Rauf was injured.
Haris Rauf told Arthur during the tournament that because of his history of ailments when participating in the longest format, his body would not be able to handle the intense exertion of bowling in three Tests. Notably, in December 2022, the fast bowler’s sole Test match of his career against England ended in injury after he bowled just 13 overs.
For this reason, even when Arthur convinced him to play in the Australia series, he was hesitant. Rauf, meanwhile, has participated in four games in the Big Bash League 2023–24 and claimed six wickets with an economy of eight and an average of 16.
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