Fakhar Zaman returns to Pakistan squad for Champions Trophy

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the 15-member Pakistan squad for Champions Trophy 2025, which is set to be held in Pakistan from 19 February to 9 March.

The same squad will also participate in a tri-nation ODI series against New Zealand and South Africa, scheduled to be held in Karachi and Lahore. 

The PCB has until 11 February to make changes to the squad, after which alterations will only be allowed on medical grounds with the ICC Technical Committee’s approval. 

The squad sees four changes from the last ODI series played against South Africa. Abdullah Shafique, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, and Sufyan Maqeem have been replaced by Fakhar Zaman, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, and Saud Shakeel. 

Pakistan squad:

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

Fakhar Zaman makes comeback

Fakhar Zaman, who last played international cricket in June 2024 due to illness and injury, has made a comeback after an impressive run during the Champions T20 Cup in December. He scored 303 runs at an impressive strike rate of over 132, becoming the third-highest run-scorer. The left-handed batter has 3,492 runs in 82 ODIs at an average of 46.50, with 11 centuries and 16 fifties. 

Saud Shakeel, Pakistan’s Test vice-captain, earned his spot in the Pakistan squad for Champions Trophy following consistent performances in home Test matches. He last played an ODI in October 2023 against England. In this domestic season, he amassed 577 runs in 13 innings against Bangladesh, England, and the West Indies in home Test matches. 

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The return of all-rounders Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah offers captain Mohammad Rizwan additional options. Faheem played his 34th and last ODI in September 2023, after which he has been a consistent performer across all formats in domestic cricket.

Similarly, Khushdil Shah last represented Pakistan in ODI in August 2022. He excelled in the Champions One-Day and T20 Cups by scoring 176, and 132 runs respectively. He also took nine wickets in the Champions T20 Cup. 

Notably, the Pakistan squad for Champions Trophy includes three players — Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, and Fakhar Zaman — from the team that won the Champions Trophy in 2017. Likewise, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Saud Shakeel were part of Pakistan’s 2023 ICC Men’s World Cup squad. 

Since the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Pakistan has played three ODI series, defeating Australia (2-1), Zimbabwe (2-1), and South Africa (3-0). 

Selection committee member Asad Shafiq said the selectors prioritised players suited to the format and those with consistent domestic performances in similar conditions. The inclusion of emerging players such as spinner Abrar Ahmed and middle-order batters Kamran Ghulam and Tayyab Tahir reflects the board’s trust in their abilities. 

Upcoming matches of Shaheens:

• February 8: vs New Zealand, Lahore (Tri-nation series) 
• February 12: vs South Africa, Karachi (Tri-nation series) 
• February 19: vs New Zealand, Karachi (ICC Champions Trophy) 
• February 23: vs India, Dubai (ICC Champions Trophy) 
• February 27: vs Bangladesh, Rawalpindi (ICC Champions Trophy)