Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf was expected to be part of the upcoming Test series against Pakistan. However, he has chosen not to participate in the series. Talking about his expulsion from the tour, Shaheen Afridi said that Haris Rauf feels that he does not have a big impact on red-ball cricket.
Pakistan team will take on Australia in a three-match test series. Pakistan will be led by their new skipper Shan Masood, who is Babar Azam’s successor. The latter resigned from the captaincy after the ICC World Cup 2023. The Pakistan team has already arrived in Australia and is preparing for its opening clash.
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I think Haris Rauf feels he doesn’t have a big impact on red ball cricket: Shaheen Afridi
While speaking to reporters after the practice sessions at Manuka Oval in Canberra, Shaheen Afridi revealed the possible reasons why Haris Rauf opted out of the series. Afridi pointed out that Rauf has a very high impact in white-ball cricket.
“Haris was also not part of the last Test series. Haris is a strength for Pakistan cricket in white-ball cricket. He will continue to be a leading bowler in white-ball cricket. His impact on white-ball cricket is very high,” he stated.
However, Shaheen Afridi also added that Haris Rauf doesn’t think he will have a big impact on red-ball cricket.
“I think (not playing the Test series in Australia) is his opinion. I think each player has to have his own opinion about him. It is about the rights of the individual. I think there was an argument with him before the tour. I think he feels that he doesn’t have a big impact on red-ball cricket,” Afridi added.
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Haris Rauf is one of the crucial pacers for Pakistan when it comes to ODIs and T20Is. However, he has only played 1 test so far. In 2022, he played a Test match against England. He picked 1 wicket in the match, which Pakistan lost by 74 runs.
Meanwhile, Babar Azam has left the captaincy but is part of the team. Talking about his value in the batting line-up, Shaheen Afridi said that he is Pakistan’s main player.
“Babar, he is our main player in the batting line-up, everyone plays around him. As long as he remains in the middle, the locker room will be satisfied and relaxed. He is a team player. The more we play as a team, the better it is for us,” Shaheen added.
Meanwhile, Pakistan will take on Australia in the opening Test at the Perth Stadium. The match begins on December 14. Before the match, Shan Masood & Co. will play a practice match against the Prime Ministers’ XI from December 6-9.
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PAK team for Australia Test series: Shan Masood (C), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Khurram Shehzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Abrar Ahmed, Nauman Ali, Saim Ayub, Agha Salman, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam ul Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi