Preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy
The upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled to commence on February 19, will feature the top-8 ranked teams. As the host nation, Pakistan has announced its squad for the tournament, which includes the return of four players after a significant period. Notably, opening batsman Fakhar Zaman, who scored a century against India in the 2017 final, has made a comeback.
Return of Experienced Players
In addition to Fakhar Zaman, the Pakistani team has welcomed back Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, and Saud Shakeel. The return of these experienced players is expected to bolster the team’s performance in the Champions Trophy. Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, and Fakhar Zaman, who were part of the winning squad in 2017, will be participating in the tournament once again.
Team Dynamics and Injury Update
Due to an injury, Saim Ayub will not be participating in the tournament. As a result, Fakhar Zaman may be seen opening with either Babar Azam or Saud Shakeel. The Pakistani team has played three ODI series since the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, with mixed results. They defeated Australia 2-1 and Zimbabwe 2-1 but suffered a 3-0 defeat against South Africa.
Tri-Series Before the Champions Trophy
Before the Champions Trophy, the Pakistani team will participate in a tri-series at home, featuring New Zealand and South Africa. The series is scheduled to take place from February 8 to 14. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the squad announced for the Champions Trophy will also participate in the tri-series.
Squad Announcement
The Pakistani team squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 includes:
Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Aga (Vice-captain), Mohammad Rizwan (Captain), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Nasim Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.