Pakistan Fast Bowler Haris Rauf Declared Fit for World Cup

• Haris Rauf injured before crucial Pakistan vs. England ICC World Cup match.
• Uncertainty for Pakistan due to Shadab Khan’s injury and Afghanistan’s results.
• Semi-final hopes ride on net run rate, with New Zealand in the lead.

In a crucial turn of events at the ICC World Cup 2023, Pakistani fast bowler Haris Rauf has undergone testing for a possible rib sprain as the Pakistan cricket team gears up to face England in the 44th match of the tournament. The high-stakes encounter is scheduled to take place at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, on November 11.

Rauf, aged 30, raised concerns about a potential rib injury during a match against New Zealand. He had to leave the field after conceding 85 runs in his allotted 10 overs. Subsequently, he was assessed at a local hospital in Kolkata to determine the extent of the injury.

Compounding Pakistan’s challenges, another key player, Shadab Khan, remains uncertain for the upcoming match against England. Shadab had to withdraw from a previous game due to a concussion suffered during a match against South Africa in Chennai.

Pakistan’s quest to secure a spot in the World Cup semi-finals is increasingly fraught with uncertainty. Their fate does not entirely lie in their hands, and the outcome of other matches will play a significant role in determining their future in the tournament.

The Babar Azam-led Pakistan team faces a must-win situation against England on November 11 in Kolkata. However, even before their critical match, the results of two other key matches will impact their chances. Afghanistan, another team in contention, is set to face formidable opponents in Australia and South Africa on November 7 and November 10, respectively. If Afghanistan emerges victorious in both matches, they will directly qualify for the semi-finals with 12 points, placing them ahead of New Zealand and Pakistan.

The direct contest for a semi-final spot is between Pakistan and New Zealand, both having one more match to play. New Zealand currently holds the upper hand in terms of net run rate (NRR), and they are set to take on the struggling Sri Lankan side on November 9 in Bengaluru.

The qualification scenarios are as follows:

1. If New Zealand defeats Sri Lanka by 50 runs, Pakistan must beat England by a margin of 180 runs.
2. If New Zealand wins by just 1 run against Sri Lanka, Pakistan will need to secure victory against England by a margin of 131 runs.
3. If Sri Lanka manages to defeat New Zealand, Pakistan will only need to win their match against England to secure a semi-final spot.

These scenarios are contingent on Afghanistan losing both of their remaining matches.

Notably, India and South Africa have already secured their spots in the World Cup semi-finals, and Australia appears poised to join them. The Australian team currently occupies the third position with 10 points, and they have two more matches to play against Afghanistan and Bangladesh. A win in either of these matches would solidify their place in the knockout stage.

With the World Cup reaching its climax, the cricketing world eagerly awaits the outcomes of these crucial matches to determine which teams will advance to the semi-finals and ultimately contend for the prestigious trophy.

To stay informed about current events, please like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BOLUrduNews/.
Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/bolnewsurdu01 and stay updated with the latest news.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel https://bit.ly/3Tv8a3P to watch news from Pakistan and around the world