'It Was Pathetic' - Lahore Qalandars Owner Fumes At PCB Over Haris Rauf Row
Haris Rauf had been penalised for skipping the Test tour of Australia [X.com]
Haris Rauf's axing from the central contracts list for Pakistan and the decision to not grant him NOC to take part in T20 leagues until June 30 hasn't gone down well with the pacer's Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Lahore Qalandars.
Qalandars owner Sameen Rana has deemed the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision "pathetic" and "unnecessary". Rana was left fuming over the move's timing as Rauf's ouster from the central contracts was done just days before 2024 edition of the Pakistan's premier domestic T20 competition started.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Rana said since there was no international assignment coming up immediately, it made no sense for the board to impose such a harsh sanction on Rauf, whose period of frustration continued when he was ruled out of PSL 2024 midway due to injury.
Lahore Owner Angry At PCB Over Haris Rauf Case
"Rauf's our premier bowler, our highest wicket-taker after Shaheen Afridi. To publicly humiliate him and issue a press release announcing the termination of his central contract, I have never seen this happen anywhere," Rana said.
"I would never treat my employees like that. The employee at least has the right for you to call, email or message them. None of that happened with Rauf, and it was pathetic. It was really poor management."
Notably, the PCB issued a press release confirming the termination of Rauf's central contract with the board while also stating he will not be given NOC to play part in any T20 league until the end of the first half of the year.
The decision was taken after Rauf had been criticised by fans and media for skipping Pakistan's Test tour of Australia as he felt wary of physical strain but was soon seen playing the Big Bash League (BBL).