Sameen Rana: “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”
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Lahore Qalandars owner Sameen Rana has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the massive psychological blow they inflicted on fast bowler Haris Rauf by terminating his central contract just two days before the start of the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Rana noted that the timing was “really bad”, especially considering that the Pakistan team had no international series coming up.
Rauf had his contract terminated due to his decision to pull out of the three-match Test series against Australia from December 2023 to January 2024.
While the 30-year-old’s contract was eventually reinstated, Rana conceded the initial news came as a shock to him since Rauf has always been fully dedicated to representing his country.
“The timing of that announcement was wholly unnecessary,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “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.”
In PSL 9, Rauf only took two wickets in four matches at an average of 66 and an economy rate of 9.42.
His campaign was brought to a premature end after he suffered a dislocated shoulder.
The injury ruled him out of Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which ended as a 2-2 draw.
However, Rauf is expected to make his return in Pakistan’s ongoing three-match T20I series against Ireland.
After that, the men in green will face England in a four-match T20I series from May 22 to May 30.
Pakistan Squad for Ireland and England T20I Series: Babar Azam (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan
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