Pakistan’s limited-overs captain, Mohammad Rizwan, has thrown his weight behind the selection of Khushdil Shah for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, expressing confidence in the team’s spin options. Rizwan believes that the part-time duo of Khushdil and Salman Ali Agha will provide enough cover, eliminating the need for a second specialist spinner.
However, the decision has raised eyebrows, given that Salman’s off-spin has primarily been used as a stopgap measure while Khushdil’s skills have not been extensively tested at the international level. Yet, selectors seem convinced that their current spin resources, including leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, are sufficient.
Pakistan’s bowling attack has historically revolved around its pacers, but spin remains an area of interest during the middle overs. While teams such as India have gone with a spin-laden squad, Pakistan is entrusting Salman and Khushdil with crucial spin duties in a high-pressure tournament that could prove to be a gamble.
Salman, despite his all-round label, has yet to prove himself as a genuine bowling option on the international stage. Meanwhile, Khushdil, primarily a batting all-rounder, has recently shown promise with the ball in the Bangladesh Premier League. However, whether his part-time left-arm spin will hold up against elite batting line-ups remains uncertain.
While Pakistan’s selection strategy often takes an unconventional route, dismissing the need for another frontline spinner could backfire if conditions turn out to be unfavorable on three separate surfaces which Pakistan will play on. Should Salman and Khushdil struggle to deliver, Mohammad Rizwan’s team could find itself scrambling for answers mid-tournament.
For now, the selectors seem steadfast in their belief that Pakistan has enough variety in its spin department. Whether that belief is based on solid strategy or mere optimism will only become clear once the Champions Trophy unfolds.