by: Atika Mehboob TN Sport Pakistan:
Former Pakistan cricketer Aaqib Javed has voiced his skepticism regarding the selection choices made by Chief Selector Wahab Riaz for the upcoming Test series against Australia. The 18-member squad, unveiled on Monday, has sparked concerns, especially with the omission of pacer Haris Rauf.
Addressing the media in a press conference, Wahab clarified the situation surrounding Rauf’s exclusion. He stated that Rauf was initially selected for the tour but later changed his decision, expressing concerns about his workload. According to Wahab, Rauf had initially agreed to play Tests for Pakistan but reversed his decision at the last minute.
“Haris Rauf was initially picked for the tour but he refused to partake in it, citing workload concerns. We spoke to Haris about this tour two days ago, and he gave his consent to playing Tests for Pakistan. However, he changed his mind last night and didn’t want to be a part of this Australia Test series,” Wahab explained.
Expressing his dissatisfaction, Aaqib Javed criticized the selectors for pressuring Haris Rauf to play Test cricket, pointing out that Rauf had not played Test cricket for a year and questioned the logic behind urging him to participate in the Australia series.
“Haris Rauf has been playing T20 cricket; he hasn’t played Test cricket for a year, so how can they play him? Haris played one Test and got unfit. PCB claims they will respect players; on the other hand, they put pressure on them. Right now, there is no logic that you are telling Haris to play Test cricket. On what performance are you telling Haris to play in the Australia series?” Aqib questioned.
Aaqib Javed, speaking candidly, expressed his concerns about the squad’s ability to perform in Australia, citing past instances where even teams with big names struggled to secure victories. He remarked that if Pakistan can avoid a whitewash in this series, it would be a significant achievement.