As Pakistan gears up to defend their ICC Champions Trophy title, former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed has expressed confidence in the team, particularly highlighting the impact of openers Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman. With the tournament set to begin on February 19 in Pakistan, Sarfaraz believes the duo’s batting prowess will be crucial in their campaign.
Pakistan will kick off their title defense with the opening match against New Zealand in Karachi. This time, Babar and Fakhar will open the innings together, bringing both experience and firepower at the top. Sarfaraz, who led Pakistan to their historic 2017 Champions Trophy triumph, emphasized how much Babar has evolved as a player since that victory.
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“He is a different Babar to the one that played in 2017, a more mature and dominant player in the game. His batting will be so important for Pakistan, and so will Fakhar Zaman’s,” Sarfaraz said in an interview with ICC.
However, Babar is currently facing scrutiny over his form. His last ODI century came against Nepal in the Asia Cup in August 2023, and since then, his conversion rate has been a concern. In his last eight ODIs since 2024, he has scored 261 runs at an average of 43.50, with two half-centuries and a top score of 73.
On the other hand, Fakhar has been in remarkable form since 2023. In 22 ODIs, he has amassed 989 runs at an impressive average of 52.05 and a strike rate of around 96, including four centuries and three fifties. While Babar is known for his calculated approach, Fakhar brings an aggressive intent, attacking from the very first ball.
Sarfaraz also praised Pakistan’s bowling attack, particularly pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, who have been performing consistently. He also highlighted the importance of captain Mohammad Rizwan’s dual role as a wicketkeeper-batter, drawing a parallel to his own leadership in 2017.
“The captain, Mohammad Rizwan, is also a wicketkeeper-batter, which worked pretty well for me back in 2017,” he added.
With the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash set to take place in Dubai on February 23, Sarfaraz advised Pakistan to play with intensity while maintaining composure. “Whenever we meet, it is a special occasion with so much hype and pressure around it. But as players, you need to stay calm, block out the noise, and play with the same intensity as you would against Australia or any other team,” he stated.
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy marks the tournament’s return after an eight-year gap. The competition, featuring eight teams, will run from February 19 to March 9 in Pakistan, with India’s matches scheduled in Dubai under a hybrid model.
The tournament structure consists of two groups, with the top two teams from each advancing to the semi-finals. Group A includes Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and New Zealand, while Group B features Afghanistan, England, Australia, and South Africa.
Pakistan squad for Champions Trophy:
Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Pakistan fixtures for Champions Trophy:
- Against New Zealand (February 19 at Karachi)
- India (February 23 at Dubai
- Bangladesh (February 27 at Rawalpindi).
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