The pacer was part of the Lahore Qalandars side, which recently won the 2022 Pakistan Super League.
Pakistan have been dealt yet another blow ahead of their historic Test series against the Aussies after Hasan Ali was ruled out of the first Test. Now, pacer Haris Rauf has tested positive for Covid-19, which means that the 28-year-old paceman will miss the first Test match against the Men from Down Under.
This would mean that the already thin-looking Pakistan side will be further depleted for the first Test. However, young pacer Naseem Shah, who was originally part of the squad as a travelling reserve, will replace Rauf in the Pakistan squad.
Rauf has not yet made his debut for Pakistan in Test match cricket, but was set to be awarded his first Test Cap for Pakistan after some impressive performances in recent times, especially after injuries ruled out Hasan Ali and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf from the squad.
The Pakistan Cricket Board did draft Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammed Wasim Jr. as replacements to the injured duo, but Shah is more likely to be given the go-ahead for Friday’s inaugural Test match at Rawalpindi.
Rauf had initially tested negative for Covid-19 upon his arrival to Islamabad on February 28, but subsequently tested positive in a Rapid Antigen Test on Tuesday, prompting the board to subject the entire squad to Covid Tests, which all, but for Rauf, cleared. All the Pakistan support staff also tested negative, and the game will go ahead without any hitches.
Rauf will have to now undergo a mandatory five-day isolation, following which he will need to return yet another negative test if he is to make his entry into the Pakistan squad.
Rauf was part of the Lahore Qalandars who won the Pakistan Super League, which is the reason behind his delayed entry to the squad. He arrived with other members who played in the final, such as Lahore captain Shaheen Afridi, Mohammed Rizwan, and Abdullah Shafique, who all returned negative tests. Aussie Fawad Ahmed, who was also part of the PSL, has now joined the Australian camp as a spin bowling consultant.
The series will begin on March 4 at Rawalpindi as the Aussies return to Pakistan for the first time since 1998.
