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PCB To Take Action Against Haris Rauf For Skipping Australia Test Tour?

image-lp9sdut5Haris Rauf at the 2023 World Cup (AP)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that they will not be taking any action against fast bowler Haris Rauf for opting out of his team’s upcoming Test tour of Australia. However, several recent reports indicate that the board might withhold Rauf’s NOC for playing Big Bash in Australia later this year.

Rauf recently represented his country at the 2023 World Cup in India, where his lackluster returns with the ball drew much criticisms from across the Pakistani cricketing spectrum.

Regardless, newly-appointed chief selector Wahab Riaz recently unveiled Pakistan’s 18-player squad for a three-match Test tour to Australia, where the team itself will be led by new skipper Shan Masood.

Riaz further stated that the committee was willing to select Haris Rauf for the tour, but the speedster himself opted out of selection reckoning citing varying reasons.

Rauf likely to face consequences for skipping tour

Pakistan chief selector Wahab Riaz and team director Mohammad Hafeez have both expressed their disappointment over Haris Rauf’s decision of skipping Australia tour to PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf.

While the cricket board has recently confirmed that they will not be taking action against the speedster, several reports indicate that Rauf’s NOC for playing Big Bash in Australia might well be withheld. As per a Times of India report, the board has made discussion with the Pakistani pace maverick regarding his interest in playing Test cricket.

To date, the 30-year-old has only featured in one Test match for Pakistan, back in December 2022, even though he is placed in category B of PCB’s central contract list, where players are generally expected to play all formats.

Moreover, former Pakistan captain and legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi also lambasted Haris Rauf’s decision of skipping Australian Tests. He said:

“Haris Rauf wasted the opportunity and he should have travelled to Australia with the Pakistan team. Strangely, the player is refusing to be added to the squad despite requests from the Director of Cricket and Chief Selector.”

Pakistan’s upcoming Test series in Australia marks their first set of international fixtures since the conclusion of the 2023 World Cup, and the matches itself will form a part of the ongoing 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

The first match of the much-awaited series will commence on December 14 at the iconic Perth Stadium.