Michael Clarke and Aaron Finch Surprised by Haris Rauf’s Omission from Pakistan’s T20 World Cup Squad

Lahore: Former Australian captains Michael Clarke and Aaron Finch have expressed surprise over fast bowler Haris Rauf’s exclusion from Pakistan’s squad for the ICC T20 World Cup, despite his strong performances in the Big Bash League (BBL).

Speaking during a program, both Clarke and Finch were asked about Rauf’s omission. Finch said he was “quite surprised” that the Pakistani pacer was not included, noting that Rauf brings an X-factor to the team, although he can sometimes prove expensive.

Finch emphasized the importance of having a genuine wicket-taking bowler across all three phases of a T20 match. “In my view, taking wickets is the most important thing in T20 cricket, especially on flat pitches,” he said.

Michael Clarke also shared Finch’s surprise but pointed out that playing conditions vary significantly from country to country. “Playing in Australia is very different from playing in Sri Lanka or India,” Clarke said, adding that teams must select their squads based on conditions and clearly defined player roles.

He explained that the role Haris Rauf played in the BBL may not necessarily fit Pakistan’s requirements in the tournament. Clarke also stressed the importance of current form, saying that when selecting a World Cup squad, teams aim to ensure players arrive at the tournament in strong form and ready to perform.