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The Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram has criticised the fast bowler Haris Rauf for his decision to skip the three-match Test series against Australia starting later this month citing workload issues. The 57-year-old spoke about how if a cricketer wants to be remembered as a great of the game, they have to find a way to be successful in Tests.
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The comments from Wasim Akram came after the new chief selector of the Pakistan cricket team, Wahab Riaz, had claimed that Haris Rauf had decided to not play Tests in Australia at the last moment, wanting to take part in the Big Bash League (BBL). The former ODI World Cup winner spoke about how it was the decision of the Pakistan fast bowler, but at the same time, calling the Test format as the ‘big boy’s game” rather than the white-ball formats that Haris Rauf is prioritising.
Wasim Akram was quoted as saying to the reporters about Haris Rauf, as per the Indian Express, “That’s his decision. He’s a contracted player, so there’s a lot of controversies back home. There are some white-ball specialist cricketers in this day and age … if he thinks he’s not there as yet, then that’s his call. Test is a big boy’s game at the end of the day. You’ve got to bowl eight-over spells."
In T20 you bowl four overs and stand at fine leg. Piece of cake: Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram also compared the workload required in Tests in comparison to the T20 format in regards to Haris Rauf, who has only played one long format game for Pakistan against England at home last year. He said, “In T20 you bowl four overs and stand at fine leg. 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.”
