New Delhi, Feb. 18 -- Pakistan speedster Shaheen Afridi exuded confidence in his fitness and that of his compatriots before taking the ball in the Champions Trophy opener against high-flying New Zealand on Wednesday in Karachi.

Before embarking on the journey of defending their title, the Pakistan team was heavily criticised by fans and former cricketers on various spectrums. The players' form, the squad's composition and the selection of some players are to name a few.

Among these aspects, the fitness of the star-studded quicks, Shaheen, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf, has also been under the radar. Questions around the trio's athleticism sparked after Rauf's injury in Pakistan's first match of the ODI tri-nation series against New Zealan...