Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan has put all speculation to rest regarding the fitness of Haris Rauf, confirming that the star pacer is fully fit and ready to deliver in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
For the unversed, Haris Rauf left the field during the 36th over of the tri-nation series opener against New Zealand after bowling 6.2 overs due to a muscular sprain in the lower chest wall region.
“Following MRI and X-ray scans, it has been confirmed that Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf sustained a muscular sprain in the lower chest wall region during Saturday’s match against New Zealand,” PCB shared in a statement.
“The injury is not serious and he is expected to be fully recovered for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which commences in Karachi on 19 February.”
Mohammad Rizwan, while speaking at a pre-tournament press conference, provided clarity on Rauf’s recovery process.
“Haris Rauf bowled 80% yesterday, and now he is bowling in full rhythm. He is fit and available for the team,” Rizwan stated.
Rizwan also emphasized the importance of senior players stepping up, especially in high-pressure tournaments like the Champions Trophy.
“Being a senior player means taking responsibility. We have to lead from the front,” he remarked, highlighting the expectations placed on experienced players like himself, Babar Azam, and Shaheen Afridi.
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“We know there’s room for improvement, and we are working on it. No player is perfect, but our intention is to keep learning,” he added.
Rizwan also praised the efforts of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in preparing Pakistan’s stadiums for the mega event.
“Our stadiums have been prepared in record time. We shouldn’t doubt our capabilities,” he asserted.
With the Champions Trophy set to kick off, Rizwan made it clear that the entire squad is focused on one goal: bringing the trophy home.
“It’s not just me and Babar who want to win the title; every player in the squad wants this, and so does every Pakistani,” Rizwan concluded.
For the unversed, the defending champions and hosts Pakistan will begin their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a game against New Zealand on February 19.
They will then travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the much-awaited clash against arch-rivals India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23. Pakistan will then return home to face Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27.
Pakistan squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Mohammad Rizwan (c), 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.
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