The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is finalizing the squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, which is scheduled for February in Pakistan and Dubai. A key decision yet to be made is whether to include young opener Saim Ayub, who is currently recovering from a fractured ankle.
Pakistan will host a tri-series in February 2025 with South Africa and New Zealand as participating teams. This series will serve as preparation for the upcoming Champions Trophy. It is worth mentioning that Pakistan is the only team yet to announce their squad for the prestigious ICC tournament.
Pakistan is all set to announce the squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025
According to Geo Super report, Pakistan's squad for Champions Trophy 2025 is still under final analysis. The inclusion of Saim Ayub, who is recovering from an ankle injury, remains uncertain. If Ayub is deemed fit, the same squad will be used for both the tri-series and the Champions Trophy.
However, if he is unavailable, substitutions are considered. Abdullah Shafique, who has been out of form, and Usman Khan are unlikely to be selected. Fakhar Zaman has confirmed his place in the squad while Imam-ul-Haq and Haseebullah Khan are being considered to replace the injured Saim Ayub.
Mohammad Rizwan is set to lead the Men In Green in Champions Trophy 2025
The selectors should include key players like Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir and Irfan Khan. The team will rely on a strong pace attack with Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Hasnain.
Kamran Ghulam, spinner Abrar Ahmed and young spinner Sufiyan Muqeem could also be included. However, Pakistan remain the only team yet to officially announce their squad for the event. Although preliminary names have been submitted to the ICC, the final squad must be confirmed by February 11.
Pakistan will participate in the Champions Trophy 2025 as the defending champions
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will feature eight teams divided into two groups. Pakistan are placed in Group A along with India, New Zealand and Bangladesh, while Group B consists of Afghanistan, South Africa, England and Australia.
The event will be held from February 19 to March 9, with matches hosted at three venues in Pakistan and games for India in Dubai under a hybrid model. Pakistan will face New Zealand in the opening match on February 19 in Karachi. Pakistan's highly anticipated clash against India is scheduled for February 23.
Pakistan will play Bangladesh in the final group stage match on February 27 in Rawalpindi. The semi-finals are scheduled for March 4 and 5, with the final taking place on March 9.
The Champions Trophy was last held in 2017, hosted by England, where Pakistan won the first title by defeating arch-rivals India by 180 runs in the final encounter. After that, the tournament was discontinued, but was revived four years later in 2021, with the 2025 edition slated to be hosted in Pakistan.
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