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Pakistani pacer Haris Rauf has been tested COVID-19 positive and will not be participating in the first test match of the Australia tour of Pakistan. The player will be isolated to complete the mandatory isolation period and will rejoin the squad upon being tested negative.
Naseem Shah likely to be in action in place of Haris Rauf for the Rawalpindi Test
The Rawalpindi Test was going to be the first-ever international red-ball encounter for the 28-years old. But unluckily, he would have to wait a bit more to make his international test debut. It means Naseem Shah, who was named in the travelling reserves, is the probable candidate to be named in the squad on 4th March.
The right-arm fast bowler has been a vital cog for Pakistan and missing on him will be a big blow to the men in green ahead of the first Test. Pakistan Test squad earlier missed on the all-rounder Faheem Ashraf and the pacer Hasan Ali ahead of their injuries.
As the players’ replacement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Wasim Jnr. The ruled out duo will start its quarantine period in the hotel from 28th January, and will re-join the crew once getting fully fit alongside clearing the COVID Test.
فاختہ نے بتایا ہے کہ فاسٹ باؤلر حارث روف کا کوویڈ مثبت آگیا ہے…. آج صبح 8 بجے کے قریب ٹیسٹ کئے گئے اور دوران ٹریننگ رزلٹ آیا جسکے بعد ٹریننگ کے دوران ڈاکٹر نے حارث کو واپس بلایا اور انکو آئسولیٹ کردیا جبکہ بقیہ تمام کھلاڑیوں کا کورونا ٹیسٹ دوبارہ کیا گیا ہے#HarisRauf #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/LLdEVeOvJ5
— Qadir Khawaja (@iamqadirkhawaja) March 1, 2022
It must be noted Australia Cricket Team is in Pakistan for the first time in 24 years as it last visited back in 1998. It is going to be a full-swing tour including the likes of Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, and others in the cricket-loving nation. The series, composed of three-match test series, as many ODIs, and the only t20I, will get underway from 4th March and will be played across three different venues; National Stadium, Rawalpindi Stadium, and Gadaffi Stadium.
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