Haris Rauf’s PSL franchise Lahore Qalandars’ owner Sameen Rana lashed out at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for terminating the pacer’s central contract.
The PCB in February, released a statement where they left out Rauf after the fast bowler pulled out from Pakistan’s 3-match Test series against Australia. In addition, the PCB barred Haris Rauf from playing in any overseas T20 league until June 30, 2024.
Rana said that the national board should not have made the announcement when Rauf was preparing for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024.
"The timing of that announcement was wholly unnecessary. There was no Pakistan series coming up, or any emergency situation that necessitated the announcement two days before the PSL. Whatever the logic was, the timing was really bad. It was a huge blow psychologically for him because his whole life's main aim is playing for Pakistan,” Rana told ESPNcricinfo.
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Rana was brutal in his assessment of PCB’s handling of Haris Rauf and said that he was “publicly humiliated” and PCB was “poor” and “pathetic” in dealing with the issue.
"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. 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," he said.
Rauf had agreed to play in the Australia Test series initially but took back his name just before the squad was to be announced. Instead, Haris Rauf opted to play in the BBL T20 league at the same time the Pakistan team was getting white-washed in Australia in Tests.
He did play in the T20I series in New Zealand but picked 7 wickets in 4 T20Is at an economy of 10.61. Rauf recently participated in the PSL 2024, but his tournament was cut short due to a dislocated shoulder.
