
Pakistan’s squad announcement for the upcoming Champions Trophy has stirred discussions, particularly due to the omission of opening batter Imam-ul-Haq. While the anticipation around the squad selection was high, the final list released on Friday confirmed that Imam did not make the cut despite prior speculation about his inclusion.
Not the outcome I expected, but the journey isn’t over. This is how life is—it's all about growth and getting stronger with every hurdle. Patience and trust in Allah is the key!🤍 pic.twitter.com/0nMevB7tTo
— Imam Ul Haq (@ImamUlHaq12) February 1, 2025
The tournament’s defending champions, Pakistan, were the last team to reveal their 15-player squad. With Saim Ayub ruled out due to injury, many believed Imam had a strong chance of securing a place in the squad. However, the selectors opted for a different approach, bringing in Fakhar Zaman and considering Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel as potential opening partners for the southpaw. Rather than adding another specialist opener, the management focused on bolstering the middle order by including Kamran Ghulam, Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, and Khushdil Shah, leaving no room for Imam.
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Following his exclusion, Imam shared a cryptic message on social media, expressing his disappointment but also signaling resilience. “Not the outcome I expected, but the journey isn’t over. This is how life is– it’s all about growth and getting stronger with every hurdle. Patience and trust in Allah is the key!” he posted on X.
Imam last played an ODI for Pakistan on October 27, 2023, in the World Cup match against South Africa. His most recent international appearance came in a Test against Australia in Melbourne in December 2023. A series of underwhelming performances led to his exclusion from all formats, prompting him to shift focus to domestic cricket.
Determined to regain form, Imam participated in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2024-25, where he represented Multan and ended as the tournament’s third-highest run-getter. In nine innings, he amassed 635 runs at an impressive average of 79.37, registering three centuries and a fifty. Despite his strong domestic performance, it wasn’t enough to secure a spot in Pakistan’s Champions Trophy squad.
Pakistan squad for Champions Trophy 2025: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk), Khushdil Shah, Salman Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah.