The only side that has not yet revealed their roster for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which starts on February 19, is the hosts Pakistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has till February 11 to choose their team for the mega tournament in accordance with ICC regulations. It is said that young left-handed batter Saim Ayub is the reason for the announcement's delay. The talented player is currently recuperating in London after suffering an injury during the recent Test series against South Africa.
As per a report of Cricket Pakistan, The PCB is giving him every chance to prove his fitness before he makes a potential return for Pakistan in early February. Experienced batter Shan Masood is expected to take Ayub's spot if he can not recover in time, and Fakhar Zaman might return to the team.
When will PCB announce the Champions Trophy 2025 squad?
Cricket Pakistan citing its sources stated that within the first three days of February, the PCB is anticipated to announce the teams for the Champions Trophy and the Tri-Nation ODI Series. Starting on February 8, the Tri-Nation Series—which includes South Africa, New Zealand, and Pakistan—is seen as an essential prelude to the Champions Trophy.
Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and skipper Muhammad Rizwan will be the key players who are most likely to be in the team. Younger players like Aamir Jamal and Abbas Afridi are also being considered for inclusion. But because of the fierce battle for seats, Abdullah Shafique and Muhammad Hasnain are unlikely to make the final cut.
The ICC Champions Trophy is all set to start with Pakistan’s match against New Zealand on February 19. The tournament will be held under the hybrid model policy with Dubai hosting all of India's matches, including the first semi-final. Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi are the three venues that will host the matches that will happen in Pakistan.