New Delhi: Pakistan pacer Harid Rauf will be fit to play in their ICC Champions opener against New Zealand on February 19, according to reports. Rauf picked up a muscular strain in his lower chest wall during a tri-series involving South Africa and New Zealand that Pakistan hosted.
Rauf has since recovered and will be available for selection for Pakistan for the Champions Trophy opener in Karachi.
“Haris is okay now and the rest given to him after the first match of the Tri-Series has helped him recover well,” a PCB source was quoted as saying by PTI.
With Rauf shaking off his injury, Pakistan have no other fitness concerns as they look to win an ICC event for the first time on their home soil.
Top player
Express quick Rauf has been one of Pakistan’s top performers in recent times. Through his accurate bowling, he has claimed wickets regularly in the middle overs.
Hence he was included in the side despite being an injury suspect with the Pakistan Cricket Board announcing uncapped Akif Javed as back-up for him.
Haris has taken 83 wickets in 46 ODIs, claiming 110 wickets in 79 T20Is as he has concentrated on being a specialist white-ball bowler.
Though many have expressed concern over Rauf’s fitness, with former Pakistan left-arm pacer Muhammad Amir pointing out that any pacer takes around five to six weeks to recover completely from side strains.
Pakistan were beaten in the final of the tri-series, the warm-up tournament before CT. They went down twice to New Zealand, including once in the final, and will be eager to retain the title.
Meanwhile, former New Zealand seamer Tim Southee backed the Black Caps’ to excel in the Champions Trophy after their inexperienced bowling attack performed impressively in the tri-series in Pakistan.
Haris Rauf sustained a muscular strain in his lower chest wall during a tri-series involving South Africa and New Zealand that Pakistan hosted. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
