Pakistan announce squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 15-player squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.The event is scheduled to take place in Pakistan from 19 February to 9 March.The PCB has until 11 February to make any changes to the squad. After that, replacements will only be permitted on medical grounds, subject to approval by the ICC Event Technical Committee.The same squad will also feature in the tri-nation ODI series, featuring New Zealand and South Africa in Lahore and Karachi, in the lead up to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.There are four changes in the 15-player squad that last played an ODI series in South Africa late last year. Abdullah Shafique, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub and Sufyan Moqim have been replaced by Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah and Saud Shakeel.The squad, to be captained by Mohammad Rizwan with Salman Ali Agha as vice-captain, includes three members from the 2017 title-winning side – Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf and Fakhar Zaman. Babar and Fakhar, along with Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Saud Shakeel had also featured in the last 50-over ICC event – the ICC Men’s 50-over Cricket World Cup 2023.Following the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Pakistan has played three ODI series, defeating 50-over world champions Australia 2-1, Zimbabwe 2-1 and South Africa 3-0.Pakistan’s 15-player squad:Batters: Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab TahirAll-rounders: Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain)Wicketkeeper-batters: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Usman KhanSpinner: Abrar AhmedFast bowlers: Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah AfridiOpener Fakhar Zaman, who scored a century in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final against India, makes a comeback after overcoming injury and illness that had sidelined him from international cricket since June 2024.Fakhar demonstrated his return to complete fitness and form during the Champions T20 Cup 2024 in December, where he was the third-highest run-scorer with 303 runs at an impressive strike-rate of over 132. In 82 ODIs, Fakhar has scored 3,492 runs with 11 centuries and 16 half-centuries at an average of 46.5 and strike-rate of 93.4.Pakistan Test vice-captain Saud Shakeel has been rewarded for his consistent and strong performances in home Tests by earning a place in the side.All-rounders Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah return to the 50-over squad, adding versatility and providing captain Mohammad Rizwan with additional options.Asad Shafiq, member, National Selection Committee said, “The selectors have continued to adopt a horses for courses approach in assembling this squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Our focus has been on selecting players who have consistently excelled in domestic competitions under similar conditions. , demonstrating their readiness to perform in a global event.