Pakistan Pacer Ruled Out Of Champions Trophy 2025 Opener? Report Drops Bombshell

Pakistan didn’t have a great preparation before the start of the ninth edition of the Champions Trophy 2025, which begins on February 19, as the home side will face New Zealand in the opening clash at the National Stadium in Karachi. But they went through a tough phase in the recently concluded tri-series.

The last few months of the previous year were satisfying for the Green Brigade, who enjoyed three successive 50-over series victories against Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa in away fixtures. Their batting and bowling performances stood out in crunch situations to carry the side over the line on many occasions.

Pakistan’s recent ODI performance in the tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa

Pakistan began the tri-series at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore against the Blackcaps. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s great start with the wicket of Will Young brought joy among the home fans and players, but it didn’t last long as Kane Willamson and Daryl Mitchell put up a 95-run stand for the third wicket between them.

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Glenn Phillips’ aggressive and unbeaten knock of 106 runs in 74 deliveries, with the help of six boundaries and seven sixes at a strike rate of 143.24, pushed the Kiwis to 330/6 in 50 overs. The Green Brigade started well, but none of their batters could spend time in the middle, as they fell short of the target by 78 runs.

Most of the shoulders dropped, but that’s the exact time when the Pakistan side raised their head. The Mohammad Rizwan-led side chased down 355 runs successfully with six wickets in hand and one over to spare against South Africa in Karachi to qualify for the final against the Blackcaps.

At the same venue, Pakistan’s batting crumbled for just 242 runs in 49.3 overs in the finale. Most of their batters got starts with scores in the 40s and 30s, but no one was able to stretch it to a big individual score. Half-centuries from Daryl Mithcell and Tom Latham carried the Kiwis to a comfortable victory by five wickets with around five overs to spare.

Pakistan sweats over Harif Rauf’s injury

During the opening clash of the tri-series, the expressive fast bowler, Haris Rauf, pulled up in between overs and left the field after 6.2 overs with figures of 1/23. He missed their next two classes as concerns grew over his availability for the opening game of the Champions Trophy two days later.

However, the PTI report has confirmed that Rauf, who sustained a muscular strain in his lower chest wall, has fully recovered and will be in the first game of the eight-team tournament.

“Haris is okay now, and the rest given to him after the first match of the Tri-Series has helped him recover well.” The report confirmed that the home side doesn’t have any other fitness issues.

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Rauf is one of the key pacers in the side with expressed pace and ability to take wickets in the middle overs. He will remain in the squad despite the selectors calling Akif Javed as the backup.

Pakistan expects a better show from Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah

Pakistan’s right-arm pacer, Naseem Shah, didn’t enjoy a great time in the 50-over format in 2024 when he picked up just ten wickets in six innings at an average of 29.70 and a strike rate of 29.70 with the best bowling figure of 3/37 in an inning.

In the recent tri-series, he picked up just three wickets in three clashes at an average of 60.33 and a strike rate of 56, besides an economy rate of 6.46. Shaheen Afridi enjoyed 15 wickets in six ODI innings last year but had a tough time with an economy rate of around seven in the tri-series.