“Haris Bowled 6-8 overs a few days ago and also bowled a bit yesterday,” Rizwan said at the Captain’s press conference before the tournament. “He bowling with full rhythm today too. He also puts work in the gym and doesn’t complain about any pain. We think he’s fully in shape.”

Rauf maintained a muscle shrug in the chest while bowling in the opening match of the tri series against New Zealand on February 8 and was in a race against time to be suitable for the start of the tournament. He did not play the rest of the series, although Espncricinfo understands that it was more out of an abundance of caution than an indicator of injury.

After the press conference, Rauf was seen bowling in the nets during Pakistan’s last exercise session before the National Stadium tournament. It cleans up Pakistan to play what they consider their first -choice bowling lineup, one containing Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Rauf. The three played together in an attack that eventually ended up on the wrong side of a result against New Zealand in the opener of the Tri series. They play the same page tomorrow in Champions Trophy-Gardin-Raiser as Pakistan is preparing to host their first ICC tournament since 1996.

“We suffered for 10 years when no side came hit,” Rizwan said. “But Pakistan still produced solid results. So we have no doubt about our ability.”

However, it is difficult to escape the idea that Pakistan enters their first game as relative lower dogs. New Zealand beat them twice in the Tri series and went unbeaten over the tournament to lift the title. They continued to demonstrate their all-round ability and defended a total against Pakistan in a game before facilitating two persecutions in play against South Africa and Pakistan. At the same time, they brushed the damage to fast bowlers Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears and retained their fast bowling threat while re -ruling Pakistan through the middle of the overs with a varied series of spinners.

“There are ups and downs and certain shortcomings in our side,” Rizwan said. “We are aware that we have to make certain improvements in our professionalism and consistency.

“We tried to learn from the Tri series, which is why we fought first in the final to train where our weaknesses are located. We used that series as a training experience. We hope we have learned enough to cover these weaknesses tomorrow”

But along with the usual cheerful optimism, Rizwan’s statement was twisted with a kind of naked hunger, which he has rarely let the past. He carries his religion on his sleeve and tends to resign to “the will of” Allah’s “, as he often says. It may take off the pressure, a valuable skill for a Pakistani captain, but today Rizwan seemed to be on the edge of fantasizing how much he would win an ICC event and how good it would be to win this At home.

“We’ve come so close a few times,” he said. “We have to find out how to get the extra percent to win the big matches. No one can guarantee this success and we are still in search of the last step where we lose big games or tournaments.

“Each player is desperate for this title. And we do everything we can to find out how to win. I don’t think any country is working as hard as we do.”

It is unusual to hear Rizwan talk to that kind of edge. Soon he was back to his usual Gregarious himself and talked about how “all 15 players were captains” and the value of team performance over individual brilliance. But again, maybe it’s the “extra one percent” Pakistan and Rizwan, is so desperate.