Shakeel and Fakhar Make Comeback to Pakistan Squad for Champions Trophy

Lahore, Jan 31 (NationPress) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled a 15-member roster for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which will be held in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9. Players Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, and Saud Shakeel have all made their return to the team for this prestigious event. The same lineup is set to compete in the upcoming tri-nation ODI series against New Zealand and South Africa in Lahore and Karachi prior to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

There are four adjustments in the 15-player squad that last participated in an ODI series in South Africa late last year. Abdullah Shafique, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, and Sufyan Moqim have been replaced by Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, and Saud Shakeel. The team will be led by Mohammad Rizwan, with Salman Ali Agha as vice-captain, and includes three players from the 2017 Champions Trophy squad: Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, and Fakhar Zaman. Babar and Fakhar, along with Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Saud Shakeel, had also participated in the last 50-over ICC event - the ICC Men’s 50-over Cricket World Cup 2023.

Opener Fakhar Zaman, who achieved a century during the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final against India, is making his return after recovering from injuries and health issues that had kept him out of international cricket since June 2024.

Asad Shafiq, a member of the National Selection Committee, confirmed that either Babar or Shakeel is under consideration to partner Fakhar at the top of the batting order. “Fakhar’s opening partner could be either Babar Azam or Saud Shakeel, based on various factors such as conditions, opposition, and strategy. Both players are highly capable at the top of the order, with Babar particularly experienced in this role, having regularly opened in T20Is and excelling in the Cape Town Test by scoring two half-centuries in Saim Ayub's absence,” said Shafiq.

Unfortunately, young and talented batter Saim Ayub will not be part of the 15-member squad due to an ankle fracture he sustained during the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town earlier this month. He traveled to London for treatment along with assistant coach Azhar Mahmood but was unable to recover in time.

“Saim Ayub has not been included in the squad due to his ankle injury, but we are hopeful about his recovery. We understand how eagerly he was anticipating the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and acknowledge how disappointing it must be for him to miss this global event, especially in such fine batting form. However, as a valuable asset to our team, we prioritize his long-term health over hasty decisions,” he added.

The Pakistan ODI squad will gather in Lahore on Monday (February 3). The PCB has until February 11 to make any modifications to the squad; thereafter, replacements will only be allowed on medical grounds, pending approval by the ICC Event Technical Committee.

Pakistan’s 15-player squad:

Batters: Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Rizwan (c), Usman Khan

All-rounders: Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain)

Fast bowlers: Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed