Ind vs Pak: As a preventative measure, Pakistani bowler Haris Rauf has been pulled from the Asia Cup Super 4 match against India. The 29-year-old experienced a slight soreness in his right side on Monday.
Before the game was abandoned due to heavy rain on Sunday at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Rauf bowled five overs for 27 runs, leaving India stranded at 147 after losing both of its openers.
As a 121-run partnership with Shubman Gill came to an end, India’s captain Rohit Sharma was the first to go down. In the sixteenth over, off Shadab Khan, he was out for a 49-ball 56.
Shaheen Afridi quickly dismissed Gill for a solid 52-ball 58 in the very next over.
The Men in Blue are on the crease with Virat Kohli and K.L. Rahul, who is back after missing time with several ailments, as they attempt to make the most of the remaining 73.5 overs.
Ind vs Pak: Pakistan Bowling coach explains why Haris Rauf is set to miss the high-octane clash
“He (Haris Rauf) started feeling his oblique muscle last night. He had a scan and it revealed some inflammation. With the World Cup round the corner, it is precautionary and we’ll have to use the other boys to fill the overs. About yesterday’s bowling, I felt that we weren’t on the money from the get go, and that’s why we were hit for a few runs,” Pakistan bowling coach Morne Morkel said.
On Sunday, India’s openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill both scored half-centuries and put on a 121 run opening stand for a flying start. Despite bowling five wicketless overs and allowing 27 runs, Rauf gave the innings some control. Despite India scoring 147 runs for the cost of just two wickets, Pakistan rallied back to dismiss both and hold the run rate in check.
Given how crucial Rauf has grown to be to Pakistan’s lauded pace trio, his absence will be of concern to the nation. After Afridi and Naseem Shah, he has been Pakistan’s most reliable first-change bowler and has been essential. He is also the tournament’s joint-leading wicket-taker with nine in four games. Prior to the competition, he also took.
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