Haris Rauf to play in Big Bash League for Melbourne Stars despite withdrawing from Test series against Australia

The Big Bash League is set to land a huge blow in the club v country debate, with one major star set to snub this summer’s Australia-Pakistan Test series in favour of playing for the Stars.

Haris Rauf has chosen to play in the BBL over Test cricket in a controversial decision which has been slammed by Pakistan cricket authorities.

Rauf is expected to arrive in Australia on December 2 and will feature for Melbourne Stars after reportedly ruling himself out of the Test series which starts on December 14.

His availability is the latest drama in the club vs country debate which is becoming increasingly prominent in world cricket.

Rauf could play for the Stars on December 26 in Sydney hours after the first day of the Boxing Day Test.

The Stars also have fixtures on December 28 and January 6 which overlap with the three-match Test series between Australia and Pakistan.

Pakistan’s chief selector Wahab Riaz claimed overnight that Rauf had agreed to be part of the Test squad, only to backflip days later citing fatigue.

This masthead has confirmed he will instead prioritise the Big Bash League.

Harris Rauf will play for the Stars this summer. Picture: Michael Dodge.

“I’m revealing this because we should be honest with officials, teammates, and the public,” Wahab reportedly said.

“We spoke to Haris and he was worried about his body and fitness, as well as his workload.

“Mohammad Hafeez and I sat with him and tried to facilitate him in every way. We told him even if he didn’t perform well there, we would accept it.”

The Stars confirmed on Tuesday morning Rauf’s withdrawal from the Test squad would have no bearing on his involvement in the BBL.

Wahab added: “Our physio spoke to him and said he wouldn’t expect any issue or injury. Of course there’s fatigue, but we were sure we could have managed that very well. But he pulled out at the last moment and he made himself unavailable. I think this will hurt Pakistan cricket.”

Haris Rauf has 30 BBL wickets in 18 games. Picture: Michael Dodge

Rauf played nine matches at the ODI World Cup, taking 16 wickets.

The imposing quick last featured in the BBL in 2021 and has taken 30 wickets in 18 games for the Stars.

Rauf played his only Test match in December last year against England.

Pakistan will be without fellow quick Naseem Shah, who is recovering from a shoulder injury.

Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead an attack which will also feature uncapped quick Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Faheem Ashraf and Hasan Ali.

Harry Brook, the Stars’ top draft pick for BBL13, pulled out of the tournament last week.

They are yet to announce a replacement for the English batter.

FULL PAKISTAN TEST SQUAD: Shan Masood (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Agha Salman, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Originally published as Haris Rauf to play in Big Bash League for Melbourne Stars despite withdrawing from Test series against Australia