Fast bowler Haris Rauf has been cleared to play and will be available for Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand on Wednesday, according to reports from Dawn News.
Rauf had been sidelined due to a muscular strain in his lower chest wall, which he sustained during the opening match of the tri-nation series against New Zealand. He was subsequently ruled out of the tournament, with Akif Javed replacing him.
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However, a source close to the Pakistan team confirmed that Haris has made a full recovery in time to rejoin the lineup. “Haris is completely fine now. The rest he took after the first match of the tri-series has allowed him to recover well,” the source said, adding that there are no fitness concerns for any other player in the squad.
Rauf’s return is a significant boost for Pakistan, considering his crucial role as a strike bowler in the middle and death overs. Pakistan struggled to take regular wickets in the tri-nation series without him, as Mohammad Hasnain and Faheem Ashraf were unable to pose a serious threat to the batters. With Rauf back, Pakistan will be eager to make a fresh push to defend their Champions Trophy title.
As the opening match approaches, Pakistan will be keen to bounce back against the Kiwis after losing two consecutive games to Mitchell Santner’s side in the past week. A win against their recent opponents would boost their confidence in their pursuit of a second consecutive Champions Trophy.
