Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly ready to bring about some changes in the team’s ODI squad for the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy.
The clue to Pakistan’s squad for this year’s Champions Trophy already lies in the current team which earned series wins over Australia and South Africa in consecutive series. The squad at this stage looks like this:
| Player Name |
|---|
| Mohammad Rizwan |
| Saim Ayub |
| Tayyab Tahir |
| Muhammad Irfan Khan |
| Sufyan Muqeem |
| Abdullah Shafique |
| Mohammad Hasnain |
| Naseem Shah |
| Babar Azam |
| Usman Khan |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi |
| Haris Rauf |
| Abrar Ahmed |
| Kamran Ghulam |
| Salman Ali Agha |
Bowling Arsenal: Pace and Spin
Pakistan’s pace attack is set by Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf leading the charge. The fourth seamer’s spot will likely go to Mohammad Hasnain, who has shown promise in recent outings.
The spin department is expected to include a returning Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, and emerging talent Sufiyan Muqeem.
Shadab Khan has been absent from the squad since the T20 World Cup 2024 but the all-rounder’s strong showings in domestic cricket and his experience make him a likely candidate for a return.
Batting Lineup: Comebacks on the Cards
Key comebacks are also expected in Pakistan’s batting line-up, with Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman poised to return.
Imam-ul-Haq, known for his consistency in the ODI format with a career average of 48.27, has been in fine touch domestically. The left-handed opener amassed 212 runs at an average of 53.00 in the Champions One-Day Cup and 256 runs at an average of 36.67 in the Champions T20 tournament.
Another significant boost to Pakistan’s top order is the likely return of aggressive opener Fakhar Zaman. Despite being left out of recent tours to Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, the 34-year-old demonstrated his prowess in the Champions T20 tournament, scoring 303 runs at an average of 30.30 in ten matches, including two half-centuries.
To accommodate these two Abdullah Shafique will give up his spot while Irfan Khan Niazi or Tayyab Tahir will have to make way for the second slot.
With the ICC Champions Trophy just around the corner, the anticipated return of key players like Shadab Khan, Imam-ul-Haq, and Fakhar Zaman strengthens Pakistan’s prospects of defending their title.
