The announcement of Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy has sparked debates among fans and former cricketers, with many questioning the inclusion of certain players. The selection of Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah has been particularly controversial, leading to discussions on social media regarding the composition of the squad.
Several players, including Abdullah Shafique, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, and Sufyan Moqim, were omitted to make way for Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, and Saud Shakeel. Meanwhile, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, and Sajid Khan were among those in contention for a place in the squad but ultimately failed to secure a spot.
ALSO READ
According to sources, Imam-ul-Haq was left out due to fitness concerns and issues related to indiscipline. Despite recently captaining Pakistan Shaheens against the West Indies XI and being included in Pakistan’s Test squad for the two-match series against the West Indies, the selection committee decided against including him in the Champions Trophy due to his fitness struggles.
Sajid Khan was another notable omission, with the selectors reportedly ruling him out due to his lack of experience in the white-ball format. On the other hand, Aamer Jamal was dropped because of inconsistency, paving the way for Faheem Ashraf’s inclusion in the squad. Meanwhile, Test vice-captain Saud Shakeel earned a place in the team based on his strong performances in Asian conditions.
Mohammad Rizwan will lead the Pakistan team in the tournament, having taken over the captaincy following Babar Azam’s resignation from the role after the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Before the Champions Trophy, Pakistan is set to participate in a tri-series against South Africa and New Zealand as part of their preparations. The tri-series will begin with Pakistan facing New Zealand at Gaddafi Stadium on February 8, followed by New Zealand’s match against South Africa on February 10 in a day fixture. The series will then move to Karachi, where Pakistan will take on South Africa in a day/night match on February 12. The final will be held on February 14 at the same venue, just five days before the Champions Trophy opener.
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.
Get every cricket update! Follow us on
