Asia Cup 2023: Haris Rauf Will Not Bowl Single Ball on Reserve Day of IND vs PAK

In a significant setback for Pakistan’s cricket team, the explosive pace bowler Haris Rauf will be sidelined for the crucial Super Four clash against arch-rivals India due to a suspected side strain. The absence of this key bowler has left Pakistan facing an uphill battle to maintain their dominance in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023.

The exact extent of Haris Rauf’s injury remains shrouded in uncertainty. But the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a precautionary approach by ruling him out of the match against India. According to an official statement released by the PCB, Haris Rauf experienced discomfort in his right flank during the previous match. To assess the severity of the issue, he underwent a precautionary MRI, which fortunately revealed no tear in his muscles. However, he continues to be under the watchful eye of the team’s medical panel.

Also Read: KL Rahul Makes Record-Breaking Return, Joins Virat Kohli in this Elite List

Morne Morkel, Pakistan’s Bowling Coach, shed light on the situation, explaining that Rauf began feeling discomfort in his oblique muscle after the previous match. While emphasizing the importance of caution with the ODI World Cup on the horizon, Morkel acknowledged that they would need to rely on other bowlers to fill the void left by Rauf’s absence.

In the previous encounter against India, Haris Rauf had bowled five wicketless overs, conceding 27 runs. Despite his lacklustre performance, he played a crucial role in bringing some semblance of control to Pakistan’s bowling attack as India’s openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, got off to a blistering start. Their partnership of 121 runs threatened to take the game away from Pakistan until Rauf’s efforts helped reign in the run rate.

Unfortunately for Pakistan, persistent rain on the originally scheduled day disrupted play for nearly four hours. When play was halted, India had reached 147/2, with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill both dismissed. The task of rebuilding and capitalizing on this foundation now rests on the shoulders of Virat Kohli (8*) and KL Rahul (17*), who remained unbeaten when play was stopped.

With Haris Rauf ruled out, Pakistan faces the formidable challenge of containing India’s batting lineup and preventing them from posting a challenging total. The absence of their star bowler is undoubtedly a blow in IND vs PAK Asia Cup Super 4 clash, and it will require a collective effort from the remaining bowlers to step up and fill the void.

The pressure is on, and the outcome of this match could have far-reaching implications for both teams as they prepare for future battles on the cricketing stage.