Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf won’t take the field against India on Monday’s reserve day in the Asia Cup Super Four game in Colombo after feeling “a little discomfort in his right flank” on Sunday’s scheduled match day.
Only 24.1 overs were bowled on Sunday before rain pushed the game into the spare day.
The PCB statement said, “Fast bowler Haris Rauf will not be bowling any further in the Asia Cup Super 4 match against India as a precautionary measure. He felt a little discomfort in his right flank during the match yesterday and was subsequently taken for a precautionary MRI, which revealed no tear. He remains under the observation of the team’s medical panel.”
Pakistan will have to make do with the three pace options in Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Faheem Ashraf, with Shadab Khan their lead spinner and a combination of Iftikhar Ahmed and Agha Salman’s part-time offspin.
Rauf bowled five wicketless overs and conceded 27 runs on Sunday but brought some sense of control to an innings in which India’s openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill scored half-centuries and put on 121 in a flying start. Pakistan fought back to dismiss both and control the run rate but India were 147 on board for the loss of two wickets.
Rauf’s absence will be a cause of concern for Pakistan, given how significant a part he has become of Pakistan’s bowling attack. He has been Pakistan’s in-form bowler, and crucial at first change after Afridi and Naseem. He is also the tournament’s joint-leading wicket-taker with nine wickets in four matches.
