Controversy has erupted around Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf decision to skip the forthcoming Test series in Australia. Known for his quick pace, Rauf could lose his starting spot in the Big Bash League and could potentially have his central contract downgraded.
According to reports, Rauf’s attitude has angered the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Being a seasoned fast bowler himself, chief selector Wahab Riaz expressed disappointment, pointing out that Rauf was under contract and should have made himself available for the Test series.
“Mohammed Hafeez, the director of the Pakistani squad, and I went to him and had a detailed conversation. We convinced him that Harris would not bowl more than 10 or 12 overs in a day in Australia and that both the captain and coach wanted him to play there because he was an impact bowler. Wahab said during a news conference, “We also met with the team physio and trainer, and they indicated Haris had no fitness difficulties and there would be no difficulty with him in Australia.
Subsequently, several reports claimed that Haris Rauf had previously disclosed his red-ball plans to management and had no interest in the longest format.
Reports, however, indicate that Rauf’s concentration on white-ball cricket would result in his current PCB contract being reviewed. According to the source, Rauf is assigned to category B whereas players who are classified for all formats are given the top two contract categories.
There has been talk about reviewing Haris Rauf central contract if he is solely focused on white ball cricket. Haris was placed in category B, which comes with a monthly retainer of over 4 million rupees, enhanced match fees, bonuses, and a piece of the PCB’s share of ICC revenues. The Times of India cited the source as saying, “Those players were given the top two categories who were considered all format players.”
There are rumors that the PCB may request Haris Rauf ultimate decision on his participation in red-ball cricket and amend his contract in light of that decision. International athletes like Trent Boult and Jason Roy have made the decision to return the central contract, allowing Rauf to become a free agent. To further cloud Rauf’s future plans, the PCB may refuse to provide a No Objection Certificate (NOC) allowing him to play in the Big Bash League.
According to a source, the board “could also withhold a NOC for participating in the Big Bash.”
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