Haris Rauf Feels He Doesn't Have Big Impact In Red-Ball Cricket - Shaheen Afridi

Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf was expected to be part of the upcoming Test series against Pakistan. However, he has opted out of the series. Speaking about his ouster from the tour, Shaheen Afridi said Haris Rauf feels he doesn’t have a big impact in red-ball cricket.

Pakistan team is set to clash with Australia in a three-match Test series. Pakistan will be led by their new skipper Shan Masood, who is the successor of Babar Azam. The latter has quit the captaincy post-ICC World Cup 2023. Pakistan team has already reached Australia and gearing up for their opening clash.

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I Think Haris Rauf Feels He Doesn’t Have A Big Impact In Red-Ball Cricket: Shaheen Afridi

While speaking to reporters post-practice sessions at Manuka Oval in Canberra, Shaheen Afridi revealed the possible reasons why Haris Rauf opted out of the series. Afridi noted that Rauf has a very high impact in white-ball cricket.

“Haris was not part of the last series as well in Tests. Haris is a strength for Pakistan cricket in white-ball cricket. He will continue to be a main bowler in white-ball cricket. His impact in white-ball cricket is very high”, he said.

However, Shaheen Afridi also added that Haris Rauf doesn’t feel he has a big impact in red-ball cricket.

“I think it (not playing Test series in Australia) is his opinion. I think every player has to have his own opinion. It’s about the rights of the individual. I think there was a discussion with him before the tour. I think he feels he doesn’t have a big impact in red-ball cricket,” Afridi further 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 he is part of the team. Speaking 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 stays in the middle, the dressing room is satisfied and relaxed. He is a team player. The more we play as a team, the more it is good for us,” Shaheen further said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan will face Australia in the opening Test at Perth Stadium. The match begins on December 14. Ahead of the match, Shan Masood & Co. will play a practice match against Prime Ministers’ XI from December 6 to 9.

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PAK Squad 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