Karachi, Pakistan – On Friday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled the much-anticipated squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 and the accompanying tri-nation series. The squad sees the return of Fakhar Zaman as the sole specialist opening batter, following his absence from the national team since the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India.
Fakhar’s return to the ODI squad comes with the challenge of filling the void left by Saim Ayub, who was sidelined due to an ankle injury and ultimately did not make it to the final picks. In a notable omission, Abdullah Shafique failed to secure a spot in the squad, primarily due to his underwhelming performances for the national team in recent months.
National selector Asad Shafiq addressed the concerns over Fakhar’s opening partnership in a statement issued by the PCB. Shafiq confirmed that the potential candidates to partner Fakhar at the top of the order are star batter Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel, both of whom have been considered based on various factors including opposition, match conditions, and overall strategy for the tournament.
“Fakhar Zaman’s return is a significant boost for our top-order,” said Shafiq. “His aggressive approach and match-winning capabilities are vital to our plans moving forward.”
Regarding the opening partnership, Shafiq further explained, “The opening partner for Fakhar could be either Babar Azam or Saud Shakeel. This will be decided after analyzing various factors such as conditions, opposition, and match strategy. Both players have the skills and experience to perform well at the top of the order. Babar, in particular, has been successful as an opener, having regularly opened in T20Is and impressing in the Cape Town Test by scoring two half-centuries during Saim Ayub’s absence.”
Saud Shakeel’s selection is seen as an opportunity to strengthen Pakistan’s batting lineup, especially given his impressive form in Test cricket, particularly on home soil. Shafiq described Shakeel as “an experienced, intelligent, and calculated batter” who excels at building partnerships and crafting innings thoughtfully.
The Pakistan squad for the tri-nation series and the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 includes the following players:
Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
The announcement has generated excitement among fans as Pakistan prepares for the prestigious ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, a tournament that will feature eight top cricketing nations vying for glory. With a dynamic squad and crucial decisions yet to be made, Pakistan’s cricketing prospects in the tournament remain highly anticipated.
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