Rauf ruled out of Rawalpindi Test debut with Covid

Pakistan have suffered another setback with fast bowler Haris Rauf ruled out of the first Test against Australia having tested positive for COVID-19.

Rauf was in contention to make his Test debut in his Rawalpindi hometown with fast bowler Hasan Ali and allrounder Faheem Ashraf injured in the Pakistan Super League last week.

The Pakistan Cricket Board said on Tuesday Rauf will isolate for five days, pending a negative test. The rest of the squad has so far tested negative.

Rauf, who famously celebrated a wicket in the BBL this season with a Covid-safe celebration, shared a flight with fellow Lahore Qalandars teammates Shaheen Shah Afridi, the Pakistan pace leader, and Fawad Ahmed, who is still in isolation before joining the Australia team bubble for his role as a spin consultant on this tour.

Rauf and Shaheen were among a group of Qalanders players who went to the hotel room of Aqib Javed, the club's Director of Cricket Operations, who was isolating in his room having previously tested positive for COVID-19, in the aftermath of their title win. In a video posted to the Qalanders' YouTube channel, an unmasked Aqib blows kisses, lifts the trophy and kisses it while standing in the doorway of his hotel room, cheered on by Rauf, Shaheen and others, also unmasked.

The 28-year-old Rauf said he was "feeling absolutely fine with no mild symptoms" and was looking forward to re-joining the national squad as soon as possible..

Rauf is well-known to the tourists having played in the KFC BBL for the Melbourne Stars, and last week delivered a ball at 154.7kph during the PSL, the fastest ever seen in the tournament, breaking his own previous record.

Rauf has played eight ODIs and 34 T20 internationals since making his debut for the national team two years ago after shooting to prominence through a breakout BBL season and the following Pakistan Super League.

He hails from Rawalpindi, and there was buzz around his potential for a Test debut in his home city.

Rauf previous tested positive for Covid three times ahead of Pakistan's England tour in 2020.

Fast bowler Naseem Shah, who was originally a travelling reserve, has been included in the squad in place of Rauf for the first Test, which starts on Friday.

Naseem made his Test debut on Pakistan's last tour of Australia in late 2019, taking 1-68 off 20 overs, the only player to dismiss David Warner in that series.

Pakistan's first Test squad: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Zahid Mahmood.

Qantas Tour of Pakistan 2022

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Zahid Mahmood. Reserves: Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Haris

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner. On standby: Sean Abbott, Brendan Doggett, Nic Maddinson, Matthew Renshaw

March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi

March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi

March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore

Australia ODI and T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi

March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi

April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi

April 5: Only T20I, Rawalpindi

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports