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Two days before the
PSL season began, Lahore Qalandars owner Sameen Rana said that the PCB was
going to terminate Haris Rauf’s central contract. Rana called the board’s
response to the matter “pathetic.” In an interview with ESPNcricinfo,
Rana stated that while he was not interested in delving into the decision’s
validity, its timing significantly hampered his team’s PSL campaign, and the
manner in which the player was informed amounted to “extremely poor
management.”
“The timing of
that announcement was wholly unnecessary,” Rana told . “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.
It was reported that
Qalandars was furious in private when the decision was made. On the day of the
decision, Shaheen Afridi stated that the PCB will “understand in
time” that it was incorrect to make the judgement right before the PSL
began. However, Rana has now voiced his public displeasure, but Qalandars
refrained from doing so at the time.
“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,” Rana
said. “I would never treat my employees like that.
“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.”
Two months prior,
top selector Wahab Riaz had publicly condemned Rauf for having broken his word
by withdrawing from Pakistan’s three Test series in Australia. This decision
was made in response to Rauf’s declaration. According to Wahab, Rauf’s central
contract required him to be available, and his decision would be detrimental to
Pakistan. Pakistan thereafter suffered a 3-0 series loss against Australia.
The PCB said on February 15 that Rauf’s central contract was being terminated
due to inadequate responses in a personal hearing, despite the fact that
disciplinary proceedings against him remained confidential. Furthermore, it
would prohibit him from participating in any international T20 competition
until June 30, 2024.