On Thursday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revoked Haris Rauf’s central contract with the national team.
“Fast bowler Haris Rauf has been penalised by the Pakistan Cricket Board, following a probe into his refusal to join Pakistan’s Test squad for the tour of Australia 2023-24,” the national cricket governing body said in a statement.
The ruling came after a PCB-appointed committee conducted a comprehensive hearing and investigation into the incident.
Throughout this procedure, the perspectives of all parties concerned in the situation were considered.
“Haris’s central contract has been terminated from December 1, 2023 and no NOC (No objection certificate) to play any foreign league will be granted up to June 30, 2024,” the statement went on to say.
It added that on January 30, 2024, the PCB management presented Rauf with the opportunity for a personal hearing in accordance with natural justice principles, but his response was considered inadequate.
The PCB declared that playing for Pakistan is the greatest honor and privilege 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,” the statement said.
Rauf, a highly regarded bowler, had excused himself from playing for Pakistan in the away Test series against Australia, which was scheduled to take place from December 2023 to January 2024, instead packing his bags for the Big Bash League (BBL), which was also held in the same country.
The white-ball speedster’s withdrawal from the Test series was due to worries about his workload and fitness.
Despite previously expressing concerns about his workload and fitness, the fast bowler was cleared by the Pakistan team’s physio of any injury issues.
The speedster has only played one Test match to date, against England in 2022. His first-class cricket experience is limited to nine matches, although he has played more than 200 white-ball games in various formats.
Rauf, a week before the Australia Test trip, cited not having enough red-ball practice on the back as the reason for his withdrawal in a response sent to the PCB over a show cause notice.
