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Rachin Ravindra suffered a nasty blow on his forehead which forced him to leave the field midway through the second innings of the first game of the tri-series at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The left-handed batter was fielding at deep mid-wicket when the incident occurred.
Khushdil Shah struck a fierce sweep off off-spinner Michael Bracewell and the ball was travelling flat. Ravindra misjudged the ball as he came running in and he was hit flush on his forehead. It seemed like he lost the ball in the floodlights.
The 25-year-old couldn’t react and was on his haunches after being hit. Blood ran down from his forehead and everyone on the field and the dressing room wore a worried look. There was pin-drop silence all around the ground after the incident as medical personnel rushed onto the field.
Ravindra received some treatment on the ground before he was carried off. Pakistan’s team doctor had also rushed onto the field to lend a hand.
New Zealand Cricket released a statement which said that Ravindra suffered a laceration to the forehead and has cleared the first Head Injury Assessment (HIA). He will continue to be monitored in the coming days.
“Ravindra was forced from the field after being struck in the forehead by the ball attempting a catch in the 38th over. He sustained a laceration to the forehead which has been addressed and treated at the ground, but is otherwise well. He came through his first HIA (Head Injury Assessment) well and will continue to be monitored under HIA processes,” a statement from New Zealand Cricket read.
New Zealand won the first game of the tri-series after beating hosts Pakistan by 78 runs. Ravindra made 25 runs at the top of the order but it was a century from Glenn Phillips along with fifties from Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell that laid the platform for the win. The bowlers put in a collective effort as well to ensure the Kiwis could defend 330 with ease.
Ravindra’s participation for New Zealand’s next game which is against South Africa on the 10th of February could be in doubt. Mark Chapman and Devon Conway are the other options in the squad.
Haris Rauf walks off with a low-grade side strain
Earlier in the day, Haris Rauf walked off the field with pain in his abdomen muscles along with left side of the chest, as revealed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He was midway through his 7th over (37th off the innings) and he had figures of 1/23 at that stage.
It was later confirmed that Rauf suffered a low-grade side strain. He did not bat walk out to bat either. Pakistan will be sweating over the fitness of the 31-year-old fast bowler who has been in top form in the 50-over format. Rauf took 13 wickets in eight ODIs at an economy of 5.09 in 2024.
Pakistan’s first game of the Champions Trophy is only 10 days away. They will face New Zealand in the tournament opener in Karachi.
