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Pakistan have announced their 15-member squad for 2025 Champions Trophy; Saim Ayub out, Fakhar Zaman recalled.
Mohammad Rizwan will lead Pakistan’s 2025 Champions Trophy squad. (PC: AP)
Pakistan have announced their 15-member squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19 in Karachi. In a major blow to the team, young opener Saim Ayub has missed out on the team after failing to recover in time from the ankle injury he sustained during the second Test against South Africa.
In his place, Pakistan have recalled the explosive Fakhar Zaman, who hit a match-winning century against India in the 2017 Champions Trophy final. Saud Shakeel, who has amassed 317 runs at a healthy strike rate of 89.8 in 15 ODIs has also been picked in the Mohammad Rizwan-led team.
Ayub’s absence is a major blow to Pakistan. The youngster was among the most in-form batters in 2024, scoring two centuries in the ODI series against South Africa in December.
“His plaster has been removed, and he is in touch with his doctors. He will take at least three to four weeks to regain full fitness, but we hope to see him return to the team soon,” PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi said while speaking to the media at Gaddafi Stadium.
Abdullah Shafique, Sufiyan Muqeem and Abbas Afridi are among other notable absentees from the team. While Muqeem and Abbas are inexperienced albeit promising, Shafique has paid the price of recording three consecutive ducks as the opener in the South Africa T20Is.
The team has picked only one specialist spinner in Abrar Ahmed, though others can also contribute with some part-time spin. Vice-captain Salman Ali Agha, Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah are among the all-rounders.
Khushdil Shah, who has played ten ODIs, scoring 199 runs at a strike rate of 94.8, has gotten an important opportunity to impress on the biggest stage.
The rest of the batting lineup, led by Babar Azam, and the pace attack led by Shaheen Shah Afridi were on the expected lines. Usman Khan has been chosen as Rizwan’s wicketkeeping backup.
Pakistan can make any final tweaks to the team by February 11.
Pakistan’s Squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy
Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Ali Agha, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Abrar Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah.
