When newly-appointed chief selector Wahab Riaz announced Pakistan's squad for the Test series for the Australia tour, Haris Rauf was one of the big ommissions. In the absence of an injured Naseem Shah, Rauf’s services were needed on Australian pitches where his pace may have caused a few problems. In the press conference, Riaz revealed that Rauf who is a centrally contracted player has refused to tour Australia for the Test series starting December 14 despite physio making it clear that he will not have any fitness issues.
“Our physio told us that Haris Rauf won't have any fitness issues, but he didn't want to play this Test series in Australia. He's a centrally contracted player and we didn't have many impact fast bowlers available so we wanted him to be available for Pakistan but he refused,” Riaz told the reporters in the press conference in Lahore on November 20.
Riaz also revealed that Rauf was keen to play Test cricket for Pakistan until a few weeks ago. He changed his mind on November 19. Pakistan's new team director Mohammad Hafeez had a conversation with Rauf as well.
“We spoke to the captain (Shan Masood) and coach, and they wanted to utilise Haris Rauf as an impact player in Test cricket. We weren't demanding more than 10-12 overs a day from him, which he has done in ODIs. Our frontline Test bowling options who bowl 140+ and can create an impact are unfit, all 3 of them. As a player, I think you need to sacrifice in such a situation and look to play for Pakistan rather than moving back,” Riaz added.
Rauf made his Test debut last year against England in Rawalpindi. He got injured in the first innings amidst total dominance from England batters. He managed to take one wicket of Zak Crawley but could not take further part in the game. Rauf was not a part of the Test squad for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka earlier this year.
Rauf was expected to be on the flight to Australia but he made himself unavailable for selection. In his absence, Khurram Shahzad received a maiden call-up. He took 36 wickets in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2023. The right-arm pacer who played for Faisalabad was the highest wicket-taker of the red-ball domestic tournament.
The 18-member squad for the Australia tour will be seen in action next month. Before the three-Test series, the Shan Masood-led side will take on Prime Ministers XI in a four-day warm-up match at Manuka Oval, Canberra starting December 6. The Test series will begin on December 14 at Perth Stadium against Pat Cummins-led side. The next two Tests will be played in Melbourne and Sydney.
Pakistan Test 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, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Agha Salman, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi
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