Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan issued a fitness update on tearaway Haris Rauf and confirmed the 31-year-old was at his “full rhythm” on the eve of the Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand. After over seven years, the Champions Trophy will return to the calendar year with a high-profile clash between Pakistan, the defending champions and New Zealand in Karachi on Wednesday. There were concerns about Rauf’s involvement in the opening clash after he sustained an injury during the first match of the ODI tri-nation series against the Blackcaps last week.

Rauf bowled 6.2 overs before sustaining a “muscle strain” and going off the field in the first innings. He didn’t return for the rest of the match, and notably, he didn’t come out to bat in the second innings.

Rizwan dropped an update about Rauf’s fitness and confirmed that the speedster didn’t complain about feeling any discomfort. Rizwan remained hopeful about Rauf being “fully fit” for their first match on Wednesday in Karachi.

“Haris bowled 80 per cent yesterday, and today he is bowling at his full rhythm and told us that he is not feeling any discomfort, so I hope he is fully fit,” Rizwan told reporters as quoted from Geo News.

The Champions Trophy is the first significant cricket event hosted in Pakistan in over three decades. As the cricket action returns to Pakistan, Rizwan wants the fans to enjoy the tournament.

“A global event has come to Pakistan after 29 years, so I think the whole nation should enjoy this historic occasion,” Rizwan said.

“Pakistan has suffered enough and for a long time, but we have also won during this phase, like the 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup,” Rizwan added.

Pakistan’s first opponent in the tournament, New Zealand, have beaten them twice during the build-up of the marquee event. After losing the first game of the ODI tri-nation series, Pakistan and New Zealand returned to fight for the trophy in the final match.

After winning the toss, Rizwan opted to bat and saw his side crumble to a modest score of 242. The Kiwis effortlessly chased down the target with a couple of overs to spare and lifted the title.

Despite successive defeats against the Blackcaps, the Pakistan skipper admitted that his side hasn’t played to their true abilities. He affirmed that his side wants to defend its title for the people of the country.

“There shouldn’t be any doubts on our performance. We may not have played on our abilities, but we all want to win the event for the country and people,” Rizwan said.

Ahead of the much-awaiting clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy on Sunday, pacer Haris Rauf said that he is ready to face legendary batter Virat Kohli in the encounter, who smashed famous consecutive sixes against him in the 2022 T20 World Cup at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Kohli’s unbeaten 82 in that match steered India to an iconic victory and his dual sixes off Rauf also heaped him a plethora of praise on social media and from former cricketers.

Recalling that moment, Rauf said that Kohli never teased him for hitting those sixes in his over and added that the former India captain is a world-class player who can take charge on any bowler in the world.

“Never, Kohli never said a word about those sixes and all the talk on social media is rubbish. Everyone praises Kohli for his batting and he is a world-class player. I always have fun bonding with him,” Rauf told Telecom Asia Sport.

“With his world-class batting, Kohli poses a stiff challenge to any bowler and it’s the same with me. I relish that challenge and when we play against India in Dubai come Sunday it will be a match full of challenges. The best thing about bowling to him is you learn a lot of things in that match,” he added.

The 31-year-old, who is recovering from a side strain, is expected to be fit to play in the tournament opener against New Zealand in Karachi on Wednesday.

“I am recovering well. I have bowled with speed in the training session, so it looks good for Wednesday. I am satisfied with myself, but it will be up to the management to decide on my inclusion,” Rauf said.

The pacer feels Pakistan have enough spin-bowling options in Khushdil Shah and Salman Agha despite having the sole specialist spinner in their squad in Abrar Ahmed.

“We do not have only one spinner. We can use Khushdil Shah and Salman Agha and whoever is in good form will be useful,” he said.

“Pakistan is staging a global event after a long, long time so it’s my wish that I play a part in the team’s triumph and we can defend our title,” Rauf added.

Pakistan will host a first major cricket tournament in almost three decades from Wednesday in a move hailed as a landmark just a few years after the country was off-limits because of security fears. Staging the Champions Trophy in three cities over the next two-and-a-half weeks will be a huge boost to the South Asian nation’s reputation if authorities can pull it off smoothly and safely. “Convincing the world that Pakistan is a safe country and that it is capable of delivering such a global event from an administration point of view took serious hard work and convincing,” former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja told AFP.

“The world eventually understood our viewpoint,” said Raja, under whose tenure the event was awarded in 2021.

The build-up has not been without problems after neighbours and arch-rivals India refused to play in Pakistan over long-standing political tensions.

A powerhouse of the sport on and off the pitch, India will instead play their matches in Dubai, but the other seven countries will be based in Pakistan.

The country has stepped up security, especially in host cities Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi, even if attacks in major cities are increasingly rare.

Pakistan had been due to host the Champions Trophy, the premier ODI event after the World Cup, in 2008.

It was instead staged in South Africa a year later because of a security crisis that spilled over from the war in neighbouring Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks.

Pakistan became a no-go zone for international sides in 2009 after Islamist gunmen attacked a bus carrying Sri Lanka’s team in Lahore, wounding several players and killing eight policemen and civilians.   

But since a sweeping military crackdown that started in 2014 and lasted several years, security has vastly improved.

Test cricket returned to Pakistan in 2019 and Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa later toured the country, helping Pakistan’s bid to host the tournament. 

Those teams will all be in Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.

‘Terrorism took everything’

For 77-year-old businessman Haji Abdul Razzak, a global event coming back to Pakistan is like another birthday. 

The last time Pakistan held a major international cricket tournament was as co-hosts, with India and Sri Lanka, in 1996.

Razzak raised the Sri Lankan flag on March 17, 1996 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore when the islanders defeated Australia to clinch the title.

Twenty-nine years later the cricket fanatic will attend the opening match of the Champions Trophy in Karachi on Wednesday between holders Pakistan and New Zealand. 

“It is fresh in my mind,” a teary-eyed Razzak told AFP. “My country was thriving back then and cricket was on everyone’s mind.”

He added: “Terrorism took everything away from us. I am overjoyed to see a global event coming back to our country and I am feeling like it will be my birthday.” 

Although militancy is still a threat in Pakistan, the violence is nearly entirely limited to the remote border regions from north to south, far away from the stadiums.

With the capital Islamabad placed in lockdown, Pakistan recently hosted a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and a global meeting on girls’ education, raising its profile on the international stage. 

As a test case for its readiness, Pakistan last week staged a tri-series with New Zealand and South Africa and crowds flocked to the recently renovated stadiums in Lahore and Karachi.

Raja, a former Pakistan captain who played in the 1987 World Cup hosted by Pakistan and India, said holding the Champions Trophy has enormous significance that goes beyond sport. 

“This Champions Trophy is a crucial step toward normalising its standing in the global cricket community,” he said.

“It’s also about national pride and sending a strong message about resilience and determination. 

“It is about youth engagement, cultural promotion and building a global image.

“Now the onus is on us to deliver.” 

File image of Haris Rauf.© AFP

Haris Rauf has recovered from his injury and will be available for Champions Trophy opener.© AFP

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has raised concerns over fast bowler Haris Rauf‘s injury ahead of the Champions Trophy. Rauf limped off with an injury after bowling just 6.2 overs during the opening match of the recently-concluded tri-series against New Zealand in Lahore. Since then, he has been out of action for Pakistan, who face New Zealand in the opening match of the Champions Trophy at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday.

After the match in Lahore, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared a medical update on Rauf, saying that the pacer “Rauf sustained a muscular sprain in the lower chest wall.”

“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. 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,” read the statement on PCB’s website.

“However, as a precautionary measure and part of his ongoing rehabilitation, he will not be available for selection against South Africa on 12 February,” the statement added.

Ahead of Pakistan’s Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand, Amir has warned the PCB not to risk Rauf if he has suffered a side strain. Amir revealed that if a player has suffered side strain, the recovery time for the injury is about six weeks.

“If Haris Rauf has a side strain, he cannot recover fully before six weeks. If it’s just stiffness, then that’s different. If it is a grade one or two side strain, no matter what, it will take six weeks, and then the rehab starts,” Amir was quoted as saying by Geo News.

Amir feels it would be a “foolish” move if PCB decides to risk him despite the side strain issue.

“I got this injury during PSL a couple of years ago. If it is a side strain of grade one or two, then I don’t think he can play the Champions Trophy. I think it will be foolish to risk his career for three matches of a tournament because he won’t be able to give his 100 per cent,” he added.

Pakistan Champions Trophy squad:

Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Pakistan have decided to stick with their already chosen Champions Trophy squad after the selectors reviewed it following widespread criticism about the inclusion of certain players. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the selectors reviewed the 15-member squad after the selection of batter Khushdil Shah and allrounder Faheem Ashraf invited criticism. But a reliable PCB source said there will not be any last-minute change, even as the deadline by the International Cricket Council (ICC) technical committee for making changes ends on Tuesday.

“The same 15 players will represent Pakistan in the coming (Champions Trophy) tournament and if there is any injury problem with any player that will be dealt with according to the ICC tournament rules,” he said.

Pakistan’s CT squad was strongly criticised by some former players and experts for not having more than one specialist opener and for picking just one specialist spinner — Abrar Ahmed.

Pakistan’s defeat to New Zealand in the opening match of the tri-Series only intensified the criticism and Naqvi said last week that the selectors would be reviewing the squad.

“The selectors have reviewed the squad and feel it is the most balanced side for the 50-overs cricket no matter what happens in the tri-series,” the source said.

Captain Muhammad Rizwan has also defended the selected squad insisting that Pakistan didn’t need more then one specialist spinner in their squad as the emphasis would be on pace bowlers.

The source also added that pacer Haris Rauf who had suffered a muscle cramp during the game against New Zealand would be fine for the tri-series final (if Pakistan qualifies) and for the ICC showpiece.

“He is being rested for tomorrow’s game against South Africa to allow him recovery time,” he added.

Pakistan has suffered a body blow before the CT when in-form opener Saim Ayub was ruled out for 10-weeks after an ankle injury sustained while fielding in the second Test against South Africa in Capetown last month.

Haris Rauf set to be fit for Champions Trophy opener

The Pakistani selectors are confident that fast bowler Haris Rauf will be fit in time for the February 19 Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand even though he was ruled out of the three-nation ODI tournament on Tuesday. Haris, who sustained a muscle injury while bowling against New Zealand in the tri-series opener, is said to have been advised rest and skip the remaining matches of the three-nation event.

“This has been done so that he has ample time to be ready for the Champions Trophy,” an official close to the team said.

He said that Haris was with the national side and was being well taken care of by the physio, strength and conditioning coach and team doctor.

After Haris underwent a MRI and X-ray scans, the PCB released a statement confirming the injury.

“The injury is not serious, and Haris Rauf is expected to make a full recovery in time for the ICC Champions Trophy, which begins in Karachi on February 19,” the statement said.

“However, as part of his rehabilitation and as a precautionary measure, Rauf will not be available for selection in Pakistan’s next match against South Africa on February 12,” the statement added.

Pakistan CT squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c) Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saud Shakeel, Kamran Ghulam, Tayyab Tahir, Salman Ali Agha, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Muhammad Hasnain and Haris Rauf. 

Pakistan batter Imam-ul-Haq has shared an insight into how a defeat to India terribly affected the mentality of Pakistan players leading up to the 2023 ODI World Cup. Imam speaks about the 2023 Asia Cup, where Pakistan were handed a humiliating 228-run defeat by India, thereby also ending their hopes of winning the Asia Cup. In that game, Pakistan were bowled out for just 128, chasing India’s 356. Imam narrated the raw emotions of how that game, and then the loss to Afghanistan during the World Cup, completely shattered the confidence of the Pakistan team.

“The sudden loss to India in the Asia Cup (in 2023) started a downfall. The Asia Cup was a disaster. I saw several of our boys crying, a lot of them locked themselves in their rooms and many of them had stopped smiling,” narrated Imam on the Ultra Edge Podcast.

Following the defeat to India in the Asia Cup, Pakistan were again comprehensively beaten by India in the 2023 ODI World Cup. A few days later, Pakistan’s hopes of qualifying were almost dashed when they were beaten by Afghanistan as well. Imam said that these losses badly affected his teammates.

“I remember the exact picture after the Afghanistan match. Where I was sitting, where Babar (Azam) was, Haris (Rauf) and Shaheen (Afridi) were sitting in front of me and one of them was bitterly crying. Shadab (Khan) was sat in a corner,” Imam said.

Imam Ul Haq: The Downfall of Pakistan started after Asia Cup match vs India.

They cried after match vs India in WC and then crying stopped for a while.

But then it resumed vs Afghanistan where they cried twice:

1. after losing the match

2. after watching Afghan celebration pic.twitter.com/stAoQVV3GE

— Johns (@JohnyBravo183) December 21, 2024

“The downfall started from the India game, and after the Afghanistan loss, it was the end for us,” Imam said further.

Pakistan went on to miss qualification to the semi-finals of the World Cup, leading to Babar Azam resigning from captaincy. Although he was reinstated six months later, Pakistan’s poor white-ball form continued as they got knocked out of the T20 World Cup 2024 in the initial group phase. This led to Babar quitting captaincy permanently.

Pakistan are experiencing a renaissance since then, having won back-to-back ODI series, in Australia and South Africa respectively, under the leadership of Mohammed Rizwan.

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