🏏Champions Trophy: Pakistan vs New Zealand, Match 1, Gr A Karachi🏏 - Page 4

Team News:

Pakistan: Haris Rauf, who had sustained a muscular strain in his lower chest wall during the recently-concluded tri-series, was declared available for the opening game of Champions Trophy. He has also resumed practice in the nets.

Probable XI: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam/Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf

New Zealand: Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the tournament. Kyle Jamieson has been roped in as his replacement. Meanwhile, Rachin Ravindra, who had sustained a face injury during the tri-series has resumed his practise, but his availability is yet to be confirmed.

Probable XI: Will Young/Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Nathan Smith/Jacob Duffy, Will O'Rourke

1.00pm While doing his pitch report, Wahab Riaz has suggested that Karachi will be a "batting paradise" today, and he's advised the fast bowlers to be disciplined while sticking to the back-of-a-length area.

Hamza: "Well, well, talking about moments, Has there ever been a more fateful one in Champions Trophy history than the Jasprit Bumrah No-ball in the final?"

Ashton: "12 years since Aussies last won a champions trophy game and 7 years since that final... Go Aussies and NZ"

Dan Weston: "Being able to pick a squad to play on just one ground is a big advantage India has over the other teams. Clearly unfair."

Ankur baid: "Most memorable CT moment, Ashwin bowling the final over in 2013 and Yuvraj driving McGrath and Lee on the off side in 2000, Most forgettable moment Virat getting caught behind off Amir in 2017 final. "

Hamza: "Well, well, talking about moments, Has there ever been a more fateful one in Champions Trophy history than the Jasprit Bumrah No-ball in the final?"

Ashton: "12 years since Aussies last won a champions trophy game and 7 years since that final... Go Aussies and NZ"

Richard A: "Here's hoping none of the Kiwi quicks go down in a heap during warmups this time. Once again, at the start of a major tournament, Kyle Jamieson is in transit coming to join the team. Deja vu all over again"

Shishank Dahiya: "Most memorable CT moment was when Yuvraj and Zaheer made their debut in the Kenya edition" -- I'm going for Bradshaw and Browne winning it for West Indies in 2004!

Dan Weston: "Being able to pick a squad to play on just one ground is a big advantage India has over the other teams. Clearly unfair."

Sanket: “Babar opening with Fakhar sound very very dangerous but in reality that could backfire as well. New ball is the best chance for the bowler to take wickets in the ODIs and exposing your best batter to it seems a very dangerous tactic especially since he is the one who holds that batting line up together, would love to see how this shapes up."

Guruprasad S: "Most memorable moments:Zaheer Khan's yorker to S. Waugh (2000).Scott Styris' six off Wasim Akram (2000 semi-finals)." -- Zaheer bowled a lot of yorkers in his career, but that ball to Waugh definitely wasn't one, even if thousands of people keep calling it that!

Why did I have to book my online training today? Why did I have to encounter a technical glitch which prevented me to finish the training at work during business hours? Now I am sitting at home attending my training when the match is about to start.

Cheers..

The toss is nearly here. A good time to catch up on our team previews for Pakistan and New Zealand.