Lahore Qalandars owner slams PCB for terminating Haris Rauf's contract two days before PSL 2024

Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Lahore Qalandars have slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for their decision to terminate Haris Rauf’s contract, accusing the board of causing a “psychological blow” by “publicly humiliating” the pacer.

The PCB had terminated Rauf's contract on 15 February, two days before the ninth edition of Pakistan’s premier T20 event got underway, for failing to play the three-Test series against Australia Down Under in December and January. Rauf had not only skipped the Test series, in which the Pakistanis were whitewashed 3-0, he was representing the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League while the Tests were underway.

Sameen Rana, owner of the Lahore Qalandars franchise that Rauf plays for in the PSL, felt the timing of PCB’s announcement was unnecessary and had a negative effect on the star bowler especially on his confidence.

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“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 on Sunday.

It wasn’t just the timing of the announcement that Rana expressed unhappiness over, but the way PCB handled the situation, which he described as “pathetic”.

“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.

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“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,” Rana added.

Rauf was additionally denied a ‘No Objection Certificate’ to play overseas leagues till 30 June as part of his punishment for prioritising a T20 franchise over his country.

The 30-year-old made four appearances for Qalandars, who have won back-to-back titles and currently are in possession of the trophy, in PSL nine before getting ruled out of the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury.