(Cricket News) Pakistan Fast bowler Haris Rauf faced harsh consequences from the PCB, which terminated his central contract after he refused to play in Pakistan’s Test series against Australia late last year. The PCB said in a statement that a hearing was held after Rauf’s decision to skip the three-match series and that “the views of all stakeholders” were taken into consideration.
Additionally, Rauf will not be granted a Nomination of Continuence to play in any overseas league until June 30, 2024. Reportedly, this punishment does not include his exclusion from the national team; rather, the PCB wants him to be available for all international commitments during this period.
Hearings centered on the run-up to Pakistan’s tour of Australia, which included three Test matches. Chief selector Wahab Riaz said that Rauf had broken his earlier promise to be available for that series, criticizing him for reversing his earlier statement that it would “hurt Pakistan cricket.”
Rauf reportedly had a very different take on that exchange, saying he had never confirmed his availability and that he wanted to focus on white-ball cricket and take care of his body. However, it seems that this argument did not hold water with the board during the subsequent hearing.
“On January 30, 2024, the PCB management offered Haris a chance for a personal hearing in compliance with the principles of natural justice, and his response was found unsatisfactory,” the PCB stated.
“Playing for Pakistan is the ultimate honor and privilege for any sportsperson. Refusal to be part of Pakistan’s Test squad in the absence of any medical report or justifiable reason is a material violation of the central contract.”
While Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain were sidelined with long-term injuries over the winter, Pakistan’s fast bowlers were simply outpaced by Australia’s, and the visitors were thrashed 3-0. Pakistan did find themselves lacking in pace during the series against Australia. Shaheen Afridi has not recovered to hit the speeds he did before his knee injury in the T20 World Cup final in 2022.
The T20 Blast in England is scheduled to begin in May, but Rauf’s duties with the national team in England, where Pakistan will be playing a white-ball series, would have prevented him from playing any way. The T20 World Cup is scheduled to start in June and will go on until the end of the month, at which point his ban from international competitions expires.
