Wasim Akram shares his insights on Haris Rauf’s choice to skip Australia Test series

Former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram has shared his view on Pakistan's star pacer Haris Rauf withdrawing his name from the upcoming three matches of the Test series slated to commence on December 14 in Perth. Notably, the Pakistan cricket team currently places itself at the number one spot in the WTC cycle 2023-2025 after their two massive wins over Sri Lanka in Test cricket, and they will be looking to continue the same momentum.

However, Australia, who were the champions of the ODI World Cup 2023 and the WTC final, will be looking to defeat visitors on their home soil in the absence of Pakistani great pacer Haris Rauf in the upcoming Test series. Notably, Wasim Akram criticised the right-arm pacer after his withdrawal from the Test series over contract controverseies.

Pakistan bowling legends feel one needs to play Test cricket to build their reputations, as the red ball format is the best game amongst all three formats. In addition, the former right-arm pacer feels that in T20Is, one can get only four overs, while in ODIs, one gets eight to ten overs, Test cricket is a long race. The well-renowed cricket commentator emphasises that if one needs to remember himself as a great cricketer, he has to excel in red-ball games.

Haris Rauf is a contracted player, so there's a lot of controversies back home: Wasim Akram

"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," Wasim Akram told reporters at an event.

"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. 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," he added further.