Rumman Raees savours Champions Trophy opportunity

Left-arm pacer has been called up in place of injured Wahab

KARACHI: Pakistan have called up left-arm pacer Rumman Raees to replace injured Wahab Riaz, and the 25-year-old is ready to make the opportunity count when he joins the team in England for the Champions Trophy.

Wahab injured his right ankle while bowling against India in Pakistan’s campaign opener where he leaked a record number of runs — 84 in 8.1 overs — by any bowler in the tournament's history.

Pakistan sent an official request to the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Technical Committee to allow them to replace the veteran left-armer and after approval from Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan, Raees was asked to join the team in England.

“It is a great opportunity for me to make my mark in the team,” Raees, who could make his debut if inducted into the final eleven against Sri Lanka, told The Express Tribune.

“I was only able to play one match against West Indies (the fourth T20I) but now I am looking to play more matches and perform,” added Raees who returned figures of 25-1 in his four overs against the Windies.

‘Pakistan will do better’

Pakistan suffered a 124-run defeat against India at Edgbaston and seemed completely out of sorts, but Raees is hopeful that Sarfraz’s men will do well in their upcoming matches.

“That’s what cricket is. Whoever plays better wins the match,” said Raees. “Indian team executed their plans well and they won but I think Pakistan will do better in the upcoming matches,” said Raees.

Meanwhile, when asked about dream wicket, Raees said he would love to bowl to South Africa captain AB de Villiers and Indian batsmen Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni.

“I always wanted to bowl to the top batsmen in the world which includes de Villiers, who is a dangerous batsman, Kohli and Dhoni, who are also two of the best batsmen of modern cricket,” he said.

However, the left-arm pacer will not get a chance to bowl to any of those batsmen just yet, since left-arm fast-bowler Junaid Khan will be playing against South Africa in place of Wahab.