Haris Rauf against India in Asia Cup (Source: AFP)
Haris Rauf is currently serving a two-match ban due to the four demerit points he received for his inappropriate behaviour in the Asia Cup. However, it has now been reported that the cricketer was not informed about the demerit points penalty during the official hearing over an alleged ICC Code of Conduct breach.
The Pakistan speedster was fined 30 percent of the match fee and was handed two demerit points for a breach of article 2.21 of the ICC Code of Conduct in the group stage match against India. He committed the same offence during the final of the tournament, which led to the similar penalty, and he has been banned for two ODIs.
Haris Rauf's gesture against India proves costly
The cricketer was told that the penalty would be reduced if he accepted the offence. Haris Rauf, though, refused to accept it and was fined 30 percent of his match fee. The Geo Super report now states that the demerit points penalty did not come under discussion during the hearing and was added without prior notice to the star Pakistan cricketer.
Haris Rauf's gestures in the games against India were a result of the tensions between the two countries following the Pahalgam terror attack. Along with Rauf, Sahibzada Farhan from Pakistan and Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah from India were also penalised.
Pakistan are currently playing three-match ODI series against South Africa. They have won the first encounter and would be looking to seal the series in the second match before Haris Rauf makes his comeback in the final ODI.
Haris Rauf's performance in the final also came under lot of criticism and the pacer was not selected for the T20I series against South Africa. Thus, the final ODI will be important for him with pressure building on his spot in white-ball formats.
