Faheem Ashraf makes way back into Pakistan’s Champions Trophy 2025 squad as Fakhar Zaman also returns to the fold.
Faheem Ashraf, who last played international cricket in 2023, has also been called up. Khushdil Shah and Saud Shakeel are also included.
Following his fallout with the PCB over a social media post in October 2024, Fakhar Zaman has returned to the team for the Champions Trophy.
The team confirms what many in Pakistan were afraid: Saim Ayub is still out due to an ankle fracture he suffered during the Cape Town Test. Although it was stated at the time that he would be out for six weeks, it was thought that he had very little chance of making a full recovery in time for the Champions Trophy.
Due to his poor play, Abdullah Shafique has lost a spot in the team. He became the first player to be removed for a duck in every match of a series in the just finished ODI series against South Africa, which Pakistan won 3-0. It implies that Pakistan would start with a totally different opening combination, with Fakhar most likely to open with either Saud Shakeel or Babar Azam. The PCB has mentioned Babar’s success opening in Test cricket as a possible consideration.
“Fakhar’s opening partner could be either Babar Azam or Saud Shakeel, depending on various factors such as conditions, opposition and match strategy,” a statement from Asad Shafiq, a member of the selection panel, said. “Both players are highly capable at the top of the order, with Babar being particularly seasoned in the role, regularly opening in T20Is and also excelling in the Cape Town Test by scoring two half-centuries in Saim Ayub’s absence.”
Additionally, the team keeps the pace-heavy component that helped Pakistan win three straight away ODI series at the conclusion of the previous year. Only one specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed, is included in the final 15, along with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Hasnain. Shadab Khan, who led his team to Champions Cup triumph in September, and Sufiyan Muqeem, who took four wickets on his debut in the only ODI he played, have not made the final cut.
Pakistan squad for Champions Trophy 2025
Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk), Khushdil Shah, Salman Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah.