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Rashid Khan, who sits at the No. 2 position in the ICC ODI bowler’s ranking, will be a key player for Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy 2025.
Rashid Khan plays TT with Pakistani players. (Picture Credit: Screengrab)
Premier Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan indulged in a game of table tennis along with some Pakistani cricketers one day before the Champions Trophy opener in Karachi. The hosts are slated to begin their campaign with a high-voltage clash against New Zealand on Wednesday, February 19. Like Pakistan, Afghanistan will also play their first match against South Africa at the National Stadium in Karachi on February 21. Both teams have already reached the city to prepare for their respective games.
Scooping out time from their training sessions, Rashid teamed up with some Pakistani players like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Fakhar Zaman to play table tennis. Glimpses of the light-hearted game were dropped on X (formerly Twitter) by Pakistan Cricket with a caption, “Another table tennis showdown in Karachi with Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan also joining the action.”
Rashid paired up with Rauf to face Shaheen’s team while Fakhar was encouraging them, standing beside the board. The Afghan seems to have built a good bond with the Pakistani cricketers. The leg-spinner shared a dressing room with Shaheen and Rauf during his time with the Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Recently, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan confirmed the availability of Haris Rauf in the Champions Trophy. The fast bowler sustained an injury during the recent tri-series on home soil. Speaking with the media ahead of the first match, Rizwan claimed Rauf to be “completely fit.”.
“He (Haris Rauf) is feeling much better, and we are all optimistic about his contributions in the Champions Trophy. He has been working hard on his fitness, and we can see the positive results. We are hopeful that Haris will play a crucial role in the tournament. He has proven himself as a valuable asset to the team, and we are excited to see him back at full fitness,” Rizwan said.
After meeting New Zealand at home, Pakistan will jet off to the UAE for their second game against India. While the remaining tournament will be held in Pakistan, the Men in Blue will play their matches in Dubai. India will open their campaign with a match against Bangladesh on February 20.
- Location :
Karachi, Pakistan
