Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are yet to announce Pakistan's squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 which is set to get underway from February 19. Pakistan are the only side whose squad hasn't been revealed despite the deadline for submitting provisional squads having passed.
PCB has yet to provide an explanation for the delay in announcing their 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy. However, they still have until February 13 to finalise their selection for the eight-nation tournament.
Meanwhile, with just few days to the showpiece tournament, Samaa TV correspondent Qadir Khawaja has revealed some key details about how the Pakistan's Champions Trophy squad would shape up. He reported that Captain Babar Azam will be promoted to open the innings in the Champions Trophy.
Moreover, Fakhar Zaman is set to make a return to the Pakistan squad for the Champions Trophy. The most surprising revelation is that Fakhar Zaman will partner with Babar Azam at the top of the order, forming a formidable opening pair for the defending champions.
Pakistan's preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 have suffered a big setback with the news that young opener Saim Ayub will likely miss the tournament due to an ankle injury. This unfortunate development has reportedly led to changes in the team's opening combination.
According to Samaa TV correspondent Qadir Khawaja, Test captain Shan Masood and opener Imam-ul-Haq are expected to be dropped from the ODI squad for the upcoming tournament. With Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman set to open the innings, Kamran Ghulam is likely to be promoted to the number three position.
While Imam-ul-Haq and Shan Masood are likely to be included in the squad as backup openers, a surprising inclusion could be experienced all-rounder Khushdil Shah, who is set to make a return to the national team after a year-long absence from international cricket.
Khushdil Shah's impressive form in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024-25 has strengthened his case for selection in the Pakistan squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. His consistent performances in domestic cricket have caught the attention of the selectors, and his inclusion would add valuable depth and versatility to the team. In contrast, Abdullah Shafique is reportedly not being considered for selection at this time.
The rest of the squad is expected to remain largely unchanged, with key players like captain Mohammad Rizwan and pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf likely to retain their positions. Pakistan will start their Champions Trophy campaign with clash against New Zealand February 19, followed by a key encounter against their arch-rivals India on February 23 in Dubai.