The No Objection Certificate (NOC) that fast bowler Haris Rauf needs to play in the Big Bash League 2023, which is set to start on December 7, is anticipated to be delayed by the Pakistan Cricket Board. Reports state that the NOC is expected to be postponed until at least December 11 and that it is uncertain if it will be provided right away after that.
Before the squad departs for a three-match Test series against Australia, Mohammad Hafeez, the recently appointed director of cricket for Pakistan, is expected to address the media and provide an update on Rauf’s condition.
ESPNCricinfo reports that the PCB wants Rauf to compete in the National T20 Cup, which concludes on December 10, which is the official reason for the delay. Wahab Riaz, Pakistan’s new chief selector, recently voiced his disapproval of Rauf’s decision to withdraw from the forthcoming three-match Test series in Australia, which kicks off on December 14.
The speedster withdrew from the tour at the eleventh hour, Riaz disclosed, even though the Pakistani medical team cleared him to play. Notably, Wahab Riaz has the final say when it comes to giving players NOCs because he is the head selector. Rauf will therefore probably suffer as a result of the recent cancellation of the Australian tour.
The Melbourne Stars recruited the 30-year-old as a marquee player, believing he would only be sidelined for Pakistan’s five-match Twenty20 series in New Zealand in mid-January. Rauf has been a major marketing weapon for the BBL this year; thus, the league will also be severely impacted by the NOC’s delay.
The Melbourne Stars and Cricket Australia are utilizing Haris Rauf as a marketing tool.
With the introduction of the “House of Rauf” Membership, which will be available for purchase for the first three games at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) this season, along with a designated seating area called “Haris Rauf Bay,” Cricket Australia and the Melbourne Stars are notably focusing their marketing efforts on their native South Asian audience.
Moreover, Pakistan’s centrally contracted players are probably going to be concerned by the delay in Rauf’s NOC. Lately, the players’ and the PCB’s disagreement over how many overseas leagues each player can play in a year caused the contract negotiations to fall down. They ultimately decided on two, and in order to participate, PCB had to issue a NOC.
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