The Pakistan Cricket Board is predicted to postpone the No-Objection Certificate that Haris Rauf needs in order to play in the BBL, which will put a stop to his participation in the tournament.
As far as ESPNcricinfo is aware, Rauf’s NOC won’t likely be issued until at least December 11, which is four days after the BBL starts. It is not guaranteed that it will be released right away. Before the Pakistani team departs for Australia, Mohammad Hafeez is expected to have a news conference in Lahore. It is believed that during this event, further information regarding Rauf’s circumstances would be revealed.
The PCB expects Rauf to play in the entire National T20 Cup in Pakistan, which is scheduled to conclude on December 10; this is the official explanation for the postponement.
Rauf declined to play in Pakistan’s Test series against Australia in December and January, according to a statement made last week by Wahab Riaz, the country’s recently appointed head selector. While each side contests the precise account of what transpired before to Rauf’s decision, Wahab did not seek to conceal his disapproval. However, Wahab has considerable control over which players receive NOCs and when in his capacity as top selector, and there is currently no assurance that this impasse will end amicably.
Rauf’s withdrawal from the BBL is also expected to cause a rift inside the league, especially with the Melbourne Stars, who hired the fast bowler from Pakistan as a marquee player. Rauf’s absence from the BBL was first thought to be limited to the five-match T20 series Pakistan will play in New Zealand in mid-January, but any additional postponements will also negatively impact that competition.
This is particularly true given that the BBL and Cricket Australia in general have made extensive use of Rauf’s availability as a marketing weapon this season as they want to specifically target their home South Asian audience. The Melbourne Stars debuted Haris Rauf Bay, a specially designated seating area, and put “House of Rauf” Memberships on sale for the first three MCG games of the season.
It could be cause for concern regarding Pakistan’s centrally contracted players in general if Rauf’s NOC predicament continues. Disagreements concerning the number of foreign leagues the players would be allowed to play in each year caused a block in the long-running contract negotiations between the PCB and the players. It is understood that they decided on two, although joining either league required a NOC from the PCB.
The BBL will take place from December 7, 2023, to January 24, 2024.
