Lahore Qalandars' owner Sameen Rana slams PCB for 'publicly humiliating' Haris Rauf

Lahore Qalandars’ owner, Sameen Rana, recently came forward to scrutinise the PCB’s (Pakistan Cricket Board) decision to tear up star pacer Haris Rauf’s central contract just two days before the start of the PSL (Pakistan Super League) 2024. 

In a recent interview, Rana lambasted the PCB for branding the timing of their decision to sort out Rauf’s contract matter as pathetic. He did state that he does not want to give his verdict on whether the decision was correct or not, but he did call out the timing of the decision. 

"The timing of that announcement was wholly unnecessary; 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,” Rana told ESPNcricinfo. 

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I would never treat my employees like that: Rana

Furthermore, it has been understood from several reports that Lahore Qalandars was fuming over the timing of the PCB’s decision but did not make a public statement about the same, but franchise owner Sameen Rana has not been shy about giving his take on the same. 

Branding Haris Rauf as the franchise’s premier bowler, Rana opined that the decision to publicly humiliate Rauf, so close to the start of the PSL, and that he would never treat his employee like the PCB has done.

"Rauf's our premier bowler, our highest wicket-taker after Shaheen Afridi. To publicly humiliate him and issue a press release announcing the termination of his central contract, I have never seen this happen anywhere, I would never treat my employees like that,” Rana said. 

"The employee at least has the right for you to call, email or message them. None of that happened with Rauf, and it was pathetic. It was really poor management,” he added.