Picture Credit: X
With the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 just two days away from start, the hosts, Pakistan have received a massive relief as their star pacer Haris Rauf is likely to be fit for the opening match. As per reports, Rauf has regained fitness and will be ready for the opening match, where the Men in Green will face New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi on February 19.
It is to be noted that Haris Rauf sustained a muscle strain in the opening match of the tri-nation series against New Zealand. He was forced to leave the field after bowling 6.2 overs, where he picked up a solitary wicket of Tom Latham. The 31-year-old did not take the field thereafter, which saw Pakistan losing the game by 78-run margin.
Haris Raud declared “fit” ahead of CT 2025 opener against New Zealand: Reports
While the Pakistan pacer was ruled out of the tri-nation series following the injury with Akif Javed replacing him, but sources close to development have now informed that the pacer is “fit”. “Haris is okay now and the rest given to him after the first match of the Tri-Series has helped him recover well,” the source said, as quoted by Times of India.
In his international career, Haris Rauf has picked up 83 wickets from 46 ODIs and 110 wickets in 79 T20Is. The 31-year-old is considered to be a white-ball specialist, and will be crucial for the hosts in the Champions Trophy, which is set to commence from February 19 onwards. Pakistan have been placed in Group A alongside arch-rivals India, New Zealand and Bangladesh.
Pakistan's squad for ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025
Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi
