Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf is set to face serious repercussions for refusing to tour Australia for the three-Test series next month. Rauf's last-minute change of plans did not go down well with newly appointed chief selector Wahab Riaz and Director of Cricket Mohammad Hafeez. As a result, Rauf may get a demotion in the central contract and be denied permission to play the Big Bash League (BBL) 2023-24.
While 'Category A' only includes former skipper Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and new T20I skipper Shaheen Afridi, Rauf got the 'Category B' contract. He is on a monthly retainer of over PKR 40 lakh alongside five other players.
According to PTI, a source said that the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) senior officials are unhappy with Rauf and statements made in the aftermath by Lahore Qalandars coach Aqib Javed who backed the tearaway pacer's decision.
Earlier, in the press conference where Riaz announced the 18-member Test squad, he revealed that Rauf left him and Hafeez hanging till the last minute.
“The Director of Pakistan team, Mohammad Hafeez and I, 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,” Riaz said in Lahore on November 20.
“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,” the former Pakistan left-arm pacer said.
After Riaz's statement, there were reports in Pakistan media that Rauf had never made himself for Test cricket as his focus is limited-overs cricket. Also, he wants to manage his workload as well. However, the source also said that Rauf not making it clear did not go down with PCB senior officials and selectors.
“There has been discussion that if Haris is only focussed 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.
“Those players were given top two categories who were considered all format players,” the source said.
Now, Rauf may have two options going forward. According to the source, Rauf may make a final decision that he wants to stay away from red-ball cricket which will lead to a revision of his contract. The other option will be to opt out of central contracts like international players Trent Boult, Jason Roya and others. In the second case, he can also return to the fold.
“A NOC for playing in the Big Bash could also be withheld by the board,” the source added.
In addition, Hafeez and Riaz have talked to PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf as well regarding Rauf's attitude.
Last year, Rauf made his Test debut against England. He got injured after bowling just 13 overs and taking the solitary wicket of Zak Crawley while conceding 78 runs.
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