Haris Rauf's central contract likely to be revised after pulling out of Australia Tests

Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf's decision to withdraw from the upcoming Test series in Australia has stirred controversy. Rauf, known for his express pace, now faces potential downgrading in his central contract and might miss out on participating in the Big Bash League as well.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly displeased with Rauf's attitude. Chief selector Wahab Riaz, himself a seasoned fast bowler, expressed disappointment, emphasizing that, as a centrally contracted player, Rauf should have made himself available for the Test series.

"I and the Director of Pakistan team, Mohammad Hafeez, we went and spoke to him in detail and told him that both the captain and coach wanted him (Haris) to play in Australia as he was an impact bowler and we assured him he would not bowl more then 10-12 overs in a day in Australia. We also spoke to the team physio and trainer and they said Haris had no fitness issues and there would be no problem with him in Australia," Wahab stated during a press conference.

Later a few sources said that Haris had already told the management regarding his red-ball plans and was never interested in the longest format. Meanwhile, reports suggest that Rauf's focus on white-ball cricket may lead to a review of his current PCB contract. The source indicates that players categorized for all formats receive the top two contract categories, whereas Rauf is placed in category B.

"There has been discussion that if Haris is only focussed on white ball cricket then the central contact given to him also needs to be reviewed since he was placed in category B which carries a monthly retainer of over 4 million rupees plus enhanced match fees, bonuses and a share in the PCB's share of ICC revenues. Those players were given top two categories who were considered all format players," the source was quoted as saying by Times of India.

There is speculation that the PCB might ask Rauf for a final decision on his involvement in red-ball cricket and revise his contract accordingly. Alternatively, Rauf has the option to go freelance and return the central contract, a path taken by international players like Trent Boult and Jason Roy. Furthermore, the PCB may withhold a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for Rauf to participate in the Big Bash League, adding another layer of uncertainty to his future endeavors.

"A NOC for playing in the Big Bash could also be withheld by the board," source added.