New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra suffered a severe forehead injury, bleeding heavily during the opening match of the Tri-Nation Series against Pakistan at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. While fielding at deep square-leg, he lost sight of the ball in the floodlights, resulting in a direct impact on his face. Ravindra remained motionless for a moment after the blow.
The shocking incident left the stadium in stunned silence, with both the crowd and the New Zealand team visibly concerned after Khushdil Shah’s slog-sweep led to the unfortunate mishap. You can watch the video here:
Rachin Ravindra bleeding 😱😱😱#PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/zGhcAOT4DM
— Manoo (@1missmanoo) February 8, 2025
As Ravindra left the field, an ice pack was applied to his forehead to control the bleeding. Play resumed after a brief pause, with Michael Bracewell giving away five runs in the next three deliveries. By the end of the 37th over, Pakistan had reached 204/5.
Earlier in the match, Ravindra had contributed a quick 25 off 19 balls before being dismissed. New Zealand held a strong grip on the match, as Pakistan required 132 runs from 75 balls with five wickets remaining.
Just two overs before his injury, Ravindra had bowled a brief three-over spell. Earlier in the game, he opened the batting with a quickfire 25 off 19 balls, providing his team with a solid start. New Zealand went on to post a formidable total of 330/6.
Haris Rauf Leaves Field Mid-Over, Ruled Out of Pakistan’s Chase Due to Side Strain
Earlier in the match, Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf left the field just two deliveries into his seventh over, with the PCB later confirming that he had reported “sharp pain in the left side of his chest and abdomen muscles.” Subsequent tests revealed a “low-grade side strain,” ruling him out of Pakistan’s batting lineup during the chase.
These setbacks come just 11 days before the start of the Champions Trophy, where Pakistan and New Zealand will face off in the opening match in Karachi on February 19. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s next fixture in the tri-series is against South Africa on Monday, while Pakistan will take on South Africa on Wednesday.
Adding to New Zealand’s concerns, fast bowler Lockie Ferguson may also be unavailable for the Champions Trophy after sustaining a hamstring injury during the ILT20 in the UAE. The team is currently awaiting scan results to assess the extent of his injury.
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