Wasim Akram calls out Haris Rauf for prioritizing T20 cricket over Test Matches

Haris Rauf got reprimanded by Wasim Akram over not playing test cricket. The 30-year-old is getting ready to play the Big Bash League 2023 season for Melbourne Stars. Pakistan meanwhile are set to begin their test series against Australia in Perth in the coming week

Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali will be expected to shoulder the fast-bowling responsibility for their side. Naseem Shah is missing the test series after getting injured during the 2023 Asia Cup game versus India.

Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf had to face Wasim Akram’s anger over his non-committal attitude towards test cricket. The former legendary fast bowler questioned Haris Rauf over his commitment to T20 cricket rather than test cricket.

Haris Rauf gets schooled by Wasim Akram

During a chat with the media, Wasim Akram said “That’s his decision he is a contracted player. So there’s a lot of controversies back home”. Many Pakistani pundits have questioned Haris Rauf’s reluctance to play in the longest format of the game.

Wasim Akram continued “There are some white-ball specialist cricketers in this day and age. If he thinks he’s not there yet then that’s his call”. Pakistan’s former skipper was visibly unhappy with Haris Rauf giving Big Bash League priority over his national team.

Haris Rauf has played just one test match so far. The sole appearance came in Rawalpindi last year against England before the pacer got injured. His only wicket in his test career so far is Zak Crawley.

Showing his unhappiness towards T20 cricket, Wasim Akram said “Test is a big boy’s game at the end of the day. You’ve got to bowl eight over-spells. In T20 Cricket you bowl for 4 overs and stand at fine leg. That’s a piece of cake. Test cricket is a long race, and if you want to be remembered as a great of the game, that’s where test cricket comes in”

The Pakistani team began their Australian tour with a draw in the only tour game versus the Prime Minister’s XI. Shan Masood the Pakistan test skipper scored 201 not out as his team scored 391 on the board.

In reply, the home side scored 367 runs with Matthew Renshaw scoring an unbeaten century. Khurram Shahzad, Abrar Ahmed, and Faheem Ashraf were the wicket takers as Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali were rested for the game.