The Pakistan cricket team may have suffered a massive hit to their chances of winning the ICC Champions Trophy. Express pacer Haris Rauf was bowling at his best at the Gaddafi Stadium against New Zealand in their tri-series opener. He was Pakistan’s best bowler, giving away just 22 runs in 6 overs and taking Tom Latham’s wicket.
Injury to rule Haris Rauf out of ICC Champions Trophy?
All was going well. He returned for another spell in the 37th over, and after bowling the second delivery, grimaced while touching his hip. Soon enough he was leaving the field. Pakistan would have been hoping that it was a minor niggle, but it turns out Haris has suffered a side strain. Not only didn’t he return to bowl but may not deliver a ball in the coming weeks with the chance of missing the entire ICC Champions Trophy.
“Sharp pain in the left side of the chest and abdomen muscles following delivering a ball during the match. On assessment, he has low-grade side strain. Being treated immediately and will reassess for return to the field after treatment,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a release.
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Injury trouble for Pakistan
If Haris Rauf is indeed ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy, he will be the second Pakistan player to miss the tournament due to injury. Just yesterday, Saim Ayub, who has been in the form of his life, was ruled out of the event due to an ankle injury he sustained in early January.
He was expected to play in the 8-team tournament, but his rehabilitation process will take longer. As hosts and the defending champions, Pakistan were one of the favourites to win the ICC Champions Trophy. But this injury to Haris Rauf could hit their chances of victory massively.
Pakistan’s squad for ICC Champions Trophy
Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi
