Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan announce 15-member team; Fakhar Zaman, Faheem Ashraf return

In the end, Pakistan unveiled their 15-man team for the next Champions Trophy. The provisional squad announcement had to be made before January 12. The 15-member squad was announced, however there was a considerable wait.

It is regrettable that southpaw Saim Ayub was unable to play because of an ankle injury sustained during the Cape Town Test match against South Africa. The Pakisan Cricket Board’s chairperson, Mohsin Naqvi, stated earlier today that Ayub’s return was still “at least four weeks” away. Fakhar Zaman, a top-order left-hander, made a comeback to the national lineup. He was called up after a social media post in October of last year caused him to have a falling out with the PCB.

The roster also included Faheem Ashraf, an all-round bowler who last played for his country in 2023. Because of his incredibly poor performance in the ODIs against the Proteas, Abdullah Shafique was dropped from the starting lineup. There was also room for Khushdil Shah and Saud Shakeel.

Asad Shafique, who is currently on the selection panel and was formerly a middle-order batter, gave Fakhar some clues about his possible starting partners.

Babar Azam or Saud Shakeel could be Fakhar’s starting partner, contingent on the circumstances, competition, and match plan. Both players are excellent at the top of the order, but Babar is especially skilled at it. He frequently opens in Twenty20 Internationals and did well in the Cape Town Test, scoring two half-centuries while Saim Ayub was not there, according to Shafique,

The main advantages of the draughted team were also highlighted by Shafique.

Flexibility, a crucial attribute in today’s modern cricket, is one of this team’s most notable attributes. This team is sure to have everything covered and strike the ideal mix between youth and experience. In order to give the captain a wide range of alternatives, each player was selected with a specific function in mind,” he continued.

Pakistan’s squad for Champions Trophy 2025:

Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Usman Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Rizwan (c, wk), Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah.