'Not the outcome I expected, but the journey isn't over': Pakistan opener with 48.27 average reacts to Champions Trophy snub with cryptic post

After waiting on young opener Saim Ayub's injury update, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was announced the squad for upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on January 31. As Ayub got ruled out of the mega tournament, co-hosts replaced him with veteran opener Fakhar Zaman who scored a match-winning century in the previous edition's final against India. While Zaman got a chance after fallout with PCB over his social media comments, Imam-ul-Haq continued to face the snub from the selectors. On February 1, Imam expressed his disappointment on not making the cut but vowed to get stronger.

"Not the outcome I expected, but the journey isn’t over. This is how life is—it’s all about growth and getting stronger with every hurdle. Patience and trust in Allah is the key!" wrote the 29-year-old.

Imam's ODI and Champions Cup numbers

Imam's last ODI appearance was in the World Cup 2023. He has played 72 ODIs so far and scored 3,138 runs at an average of 48.27 including nine centuries and 20 fifties.

In the inaugural edition of Pakistan's Champions One-Day Cup 2024, he scored 212 runs from four innings at an average of 53 including three half-centuries.

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Akram on opening pair

Meanwhile, legendary Pakistan all-rounder Wasim Akram has lauded the inclusion of Zaman and chosen Babar Azam as his opening partner for the mega event.

"There is an issue of opening as well. Regular opener is Fakhar Zaman. Thank God, he is back in the squad, one of the main players in world cricket in white-ball. I would like to see Mohammad Rizwan as a middle-order batter and maybe tell Babar to open. His technique is superb. If he plays all 50 overs and scores 125, the team can play around him. I don't know the plan of the coach but this is my idea," Akram told the reporters in a press conference on sidelines of ILT20 2025.

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Pakistan's Champions Trophy 2025 squad

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.