Pakistan speedster Abdur Rauf: “The only reason there were problems in my career – why my career was cut short and I couldn’t play for a longer period – was because I didn’t know how to deal with that corrupt mafia”
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Former Pakistan fast bowler Abdur Rauf has revealed that his cricket career was cut short as he didn’t know how to deal with the “corrupt mafia”.
Rauf only represented his country in three Tests, four ODIs and one T20I, but had a long and successful domestic career.
The 46-year-old did incredibly well in first-class cricket as he featured in 148 matches and took 695 wickets at an average of 23.84.
He added that he never had any “corruption allegations” and thus wished he got the opportunity to play more international cricket.
“I was passionate about cricket, which is why I entered this field. I didn’t know how to mix with the people here or how to deal with the corrupt mafia that existed. The only reason there were problems in my career – why my career was cut short and I couldn’t play for a longer period – was because I didn’t know how to deal with that corrupt mafia,” he was quoted as saying by Geo Super.
“Even now, as you just mentioned, I think it will be very easy for the public to understand that someone who has played 150 first-class matches, represented his country in international cricket across all formats – Tests, ODIs, T20Is – with no corruption allegations, someone who led a straightforward career and has also spent 20 years in the field of education, why can’t such a person be part of Pakistan’s cricket system?”
The Pakistan team recently took on Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series, which they won 3-0.
They then toured Bangladesh for another three-match T20I series, but ended up losing 2-1.
Following this, the men in green travelled to the West Indies and came away with mixed results as they won the T20Is 2-1 but lost the ODIs 2-1.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a T20I tri-series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan in Sharjah, which will take place from August 29 to September 7.
Afterwards, the men in green will participate in the 2025 Asia Cup, which will be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28.
Pakistan squad for UAE T20I tri-series and 2025 Asia Cup: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem