The PCB terminated fast bowler Haris Rauf’s core contract on Thursday. On 30 January 2024, the PCB management gave Rauf a personal hearing under natural justice, but his response was unacceptable.
“Pakistan Cricket Board has penalised fast bowler Haris Rauf, following a probe into his refusal to join Pakistan’s Test squad for the tour of Australia 2023-24,” the board said.
The PCB committee’s extensive hearing and investigation led to the decision. All parties were consulted during this process.
“Haris’s central contract has been terminated from December 1, 2023. NOC (No objection certificate) to play any foreign league will be granted up to June 30, 2024,” said the release.
PCB terminated fast bowler Haris Rauf’s core contract
The PCB said playing for Pakistan is the greatest honour for any athlete.
“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,” said it.
Rauf, a highly regarded bowler, skipped the away Test series against Australia from December 2023 to January 2024. It was to participate in the Big Bash League (BBL) in the same country.
The white-ball speedster withdrew from the Test series due to workload and physical concerns.
The Pakistan team’s physio relieved the fast bowler of injury concerns after he raised concerns about his workload and conditioning.
The speedster has only played one Test, against England in 2022. He has played nearly 200 white-ball games across formats, but only nine first-class matches.
In a reply to the PCB over a show cause notice a week before the Australia Test trip, Rauf claimed a lack of red-ball preparation on the back for his withdrawal.
The notice stated that centrally contracted players should be unconditionally available for the national team, but the 30-year-old was unavailable for the three matches.
Chief Selector Wahab Riaz and former cricketers slammed the paceman for not playing the longer format.
