By Zainab Shafiq 
Lahore, 31 January 2025: The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to be played in Pakistan from 19 February to 9 March. The squad features a balance of experience and emerging talent as four players are returning to the national setup.
The same team also plays a tri-nation ODI series against New Zealand and South Africa in Lahore and Karachi before the tournament.
Key Inclusions and Returns:
Of the notable changes, veteran all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, maverick opener Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, the big-hitting batsman, and left-handed batsman Saud Shakeel are reinstated, and incumbent players include Abdullah Shafique, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, and Sufyan Moqim who were part of the last ODI team.
Fakhar’s comeback is the most significant as he played a crucial role in Pakistan’s winning 2017 ICC Champions Trophy campaign, hitting a match-winning hundred in the final. He fought back against injuries and proved his worth in some of the domestic tournaments. He finished among the top scorers in the recent Champions T20 Cup 2024.
Saud Shakeel’s inclusion comes after a brilliant domestic season, and he has reinforced his credentials as a reliable batter in home conditions. Faheem Ashraf is an all-rounder, and Khushdil Shah is aggressive with the bat and useful as a spin bowler, so they add depth and flexibility to the team.
Leadership and Team Composition
Mohammad Rizwan will be the captain, while Salman Ali Agha has been named his vice-captain. The team retains a formidable bowling attack that includes Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and the exciting mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed.
Pakistan’s side has a blend of experienced players and new blood, with emphasis on flexibility and balance. The selector Asad Shafiq said that picking players based on their performance in domestic competitions under similar conditions ensures that they will be well-equipped to face the challenges.
Strategic Preparations
Asad’s detailed statements read:
The selectors have continued to adopt a horses for courses approach in assembling this squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Our focus has been on selecting players who have consistently excelled in domestic competitions under similar conditions, demonstrating their readiness to perform in a global event.
“One of the standout qualities of this side is its flexibility – an essential trait in today’s modern-day cricket. We are confident that this squad strikes the right balance between youth and experience, and has all bases covered. Each player has been chosen with a clear role in mind, ensuring the captain has versatile options at his disposal.
“The inclusion of emerging players like mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed and middle-order batters Kamran Ghulam and Tayyab Tahir reflects our confidence in their ability to translate domestic success into international impact. These players have shown the temperament and skill to thrive in challenging environments and have a deep understanding of home conditions.
“Abrar Ahmed will lead the spin attack, supported by Khushdil Shah and Salman Ali Agha, who offer reliable slow-bowling options, while Faheem Ashraf’s experience and presence gives us a fast-bowling all-rounder’s option.
“Fakhar Zaman’s return is a significant boost for our top-order. His aggressive approach and match-winning capabilities are vital to our plans.
“Likewise, Saud Shakeel has been drafted to further bolster the batting and capitalise on his rich vein of form in Test cricket, particularly in home conditions. Moreover, he is an experienced, intelligent and calculated batter who constructs his innings thoughtfully and excels at building partnerships.
“Fakhar’s opening partner could be either Babar Azam or Saud Shakeel, depending on various factors such as conditions, opposition and match strategy. Both players are highly capable at the top of the order, with Babar being particularly seasoned in the role, regularly opening in T20Is and also excelling in the Cape Town Test by scoring two half-centuries in Saim Ayub’s absence.
“Saim Ayub has not been included in the squad due to an ankle injury, but we remain optimistic about his recovery. We understand how much he was looking forward to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and recognise how devastating it must be for him to miss a global event, especially when he is in such exceptional batting form. However, as a valuable asset to our team, we are committed to prioritising his long-term health over making any rushed decisions.
“The tri-nation ODI series against New Zealand and South Africa in the lead up to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will not only serve as preparation but also as a platform to refine our strategies under competitive conditions. It’s an excellent opportunity to give the players final touch-ups before defending the Champions Trophy at home.”
The upcoming tri-nation ODI series will be a telling warm-up, which will let the team fine-tune its strategies right before the Champions Trophy. According to Asad Shafiq, the team has flexible batting order, with the opening partner of Fakhar Zaman left to either Babar Azam or Saud Shakeel, for various match conditions and opposition.
Pakistan Squad for Champions Trophy 2025
Batters: Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir
All-rounders: Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain)
Wicketkeeper-batters: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Usman Khan
Spinner: Abrar Ahmed
Fast bowlers: Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Important Matches
8 Feb – vs New Zealand, Lahore (Tri-nation ODI Series)
12 Feb – against South Africa, Karachi (Tri-nation ODI Series)
19 Feb – against New Zealand, Karachi Champions Trophy 2025
23 Feb – against India, Dubai Champions Trophy 2025
27 Feb – against Bangladesh, Rawalpindi Champions Trophy 2025
The team now together, Pakistan’s preparation is the focus, as they look forward to defending the Champions Trophy at home.
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Cricket loses, politics win: No official captain’s call or photoshoot before Champions Trophy 2025