PCB under fire: Bazid highlights double standards in Shaheen, Rauf cases

Bazid Khan has exposed the Pakistan Cricket Board's double standards in handling Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi. 

Chief selector Wahab Riaz had criticized Haris Rauf for opting out of the Test squad for workload reasons. 

“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 had claimed during announcement of Pakistan squad for Australia series.

However, now Pakistan has rested Shaheen Afridi for the final Test against Australia, prioritizing T20Is over Tests, despite the World Test Championship implications.

Bazid highlighted the inconsistency, emphasizing that PCB expressed disappointment when Rauf chose T20s over Tests, yet they themselves rest their premier fast bowler for T20Is.

 “PCB were so disappointed when Haris Rauf refused to play tests because he wanted to play to t20s instead. Now Pcb themselves rest their premier fast bowler so that he can play t20I’s,” Bazid Khan wrote on X.

Pcb were so disappointed when Haris Rauf refused to play tests because he wanted to play to t20s instead. Now Pcb themselves rest their premier fast bowler so that he can play t20I’s 🤷‍♂️

— Bazid Khan (@bazidkhan81) January 2, 2024

It must be noted that in the last six months, Shaheen Afridi has delivered 305 overs in international cricket. Following Afridi, Haris Rauf has bowled the second-highest number of overs for Pakistan during this timeframe, amounting to 117.2 overs.