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New Pakistan chief selector Wahab Riaz has come down heavily on fast bowler Haris Rauf for retracting his confirmation and opting out of the upcoming three-Test match series in Australia, scheduled to commence in December.
Shan Masood to captain Pakistan in Australia
In his inaugural selection announcement, Riaz, who recently took over from Inzamam-ul-Haq as Pakistan men’s chief selector, disclosed the 18-member squad for the series. Shan Masood will lead the Pakistan team for the first time following Babar Azam‘s resignation. The decision comes after Babar’s resignation from the captaincy post. The team faces a challenging tour, and Masood’s leadership will be crucial in navigating the tough Australian conditions.
Wahab Riaz criticizes Haris Rauf’s withdrawal
Expressing his disappointment, Riaz disclosed that Haris had withdrawn from the Test squad, a decision he believes will hurt Pakistan cricket.
“We spoke to Haris Rauf for this tour. When we spoke to him two days ago, he consented to play Test cricket for Pakistan. But last night he changed his mind, and now he doesn’t want to be part of this Test series. I’m revealing this because we should be honest with officials, teammates, and the public. We spoke to Haris and he was worried about his body and fitness, as well as his workload. Mohammad Hafeez and I sat with him and tried to facilitate him in every way. We told him even if he didn’t perform well there, we would accept it,” Riaz was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
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Selectors assure Rauf over bowling workload
According to Riaz, discussions were held with Rauf, along with team director Mohammad Hafeez, addressing the player’s concerns. They assured Rauf that he won’t be required to bowl more than 12 overs in a day.
“We spoke to the captain and coach, and they wanted to utilise Haris Rauf as an impact player in Test cricket. We weren’t demanding more than 10-12 overs a day from him, which he has done in ODIs,” the 38-year-old added.
National duty comes first: Riaz urges players to prioritize country
Rauf’s inclusion in the squad was necessitated due to injuries sidelining other pacers who would have otherwise played. The chief selector emphasized the importance of Rauf’s commitment to the team, and his withdrawal raises questions about the team’s preparedness for the challenging Australia tour.
“Our frontline Test bowling options that bowl 140+ and can create an impact are unfit, all 3 of them. As a player when you’re centrally contracted, I think you need to sacrifice in such a situation and look to play for Pakistan rather than moving back,” the Lahore-born cricketer concluded.
