Cricket News

Wasim Akram lashes out at Haris Rauf for not playing test series against Australia

Haris Rauf was called out by former Pakistan legend Wasim Akram after the 30-year-old’s lack of involvement with the test team. Shan Masood led Pakistan in Australia to play three tests as huge World Test Championship points are on the line.

Wasim Akram has lashed out at Haris Rauf over his priority given to the Big Bash League. The right-arm fast bowler is scheduled to play just five games for his team Melbourne Stars this season. Zaman Khan and Usama Mir are the other Pakistan players set to feature in BBL 2023.

Former Pakistan pace legend Wasim Akram has criticized Haris Rauf over not playing in the test series against Australia. Pakistan team will begin the series in Perth before the next two games are played in Melbourne and Sydney.

Wasim Akram unhappy with Haris Rauf

In a recent interaction with the media, Wasim Akram said “That’s his decision. He’s a contracted player, so there’s a lot of controversies back home. There are some white ball specialist cricketers in this day and age. If he thinks he is not there as yet, that’s his call. Test matches are big boy’s game at the end of the day. You’ve got to bowl 8-over spells”

Haris Rauf will feature for Melbourne Stars in the ongoing Big Bash League 2023 tournament. The 30-year-old was recently given his NOC by the Pakistan Cricket Board along with Usama Mir and Usman Khan.

Wasim Akram also said “In T20 cricket you bowl four overs and stand at fine leg. Piece of cake. Test cricket is a long race, and if you want to be remembered as a great of the game, that’s where test cricket comes in”

To date, Haris Rauf has played just one test match which came against England in Rawalpindi last December. The right-arm-pacer had a game to forget after being smashed for 78 runs from his 13 overs. His only wicket of the game was Zak Crawley who had scored 122 runs from 111 balls.

The Pakistani pacer then got injured and did not bowl in the 2^nd innings and missed the next two test matches. England won the series 3-0 giving Pakistan its skipper Babar Azam their first test match series whitewash at home.