NZ vs PAK: Haris Rauf To Be Dropped From Playing XI? Mickey Arthur Reveals

Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur has revealed whether the express pacer Haris Rauf will be left out of the playing XI for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match against New Zealand.

A crucial match of the marquee competition is set to be held between the Pakistan National Cricket Team and the New Zealand National Cricket Team on Saturday, November 4 at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. Both the teams have struggled in the World Cup and a victory will boost their chances of entering the semi-finals.

Speaking ahead of the match, Mickey Arthur, talked about the potential changes in the playing XI for New Zealand clash. There have been calls for the removal of Haris Rauf from the lineup as he has been on the expensive side with the ball throughout the competition, but Mickey Arthur has said that the pacer will not be dropped.

“If we make change – and just on Haris Rauf does a real role for us. You know, he’s kind of our striker. So no, we wouldn’t look to change Haris Rauf because he’s got a specific role for us within the team. But there is a potential for a game plan change, yes,” Arthur said.

Shadab went through a preliminary test today – Mickey Arthur

Pakistan vice-captain Shadab Khan has been going through a lean patch and he recently faced a further setback when he suffered a concussion in the match against South Africa

Arthur provided an update on the all-rounder, saying that they are in no position to make a decision on his participation in the remainder of the tournament.

“Shadab went through a preliminary test today. He came through that OK, but we’re in no position yet to make a decision on him,” Arthur said.

Mickey Arthur further said that Team Pakistan didn’t play with their true potential in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, with the Bangladesh clash being the exception.

“I’ll be brutally honest, I don’t think we’ve played to our full potential in this tournament yet. I thought the Bangladesh game was the first game where we actually put a complete game together.”

“We got ourselves into a position before the Bangladesh game where it was kind of out of our hands and it’s come back in a funny way into our hands again,” said Arthur.