Pakistan will aim to defend the coveted title, having won it during the last edition in 2017.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named their 15-member squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, slated to start from November 19. Notably, the hosts have brought back veteran players Fakhar Zaman and Faheem Ashraf as they aim to defend the coveted title, having won it during the last edition in 2017.
Mohammad Rizwan will continue to captain the team after taking over the role following Babar Azam’s resignation post the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. This marks the first ICC tournament in the 50-over format since then.
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On the other hand, promising batting star Saim Ayub is the notable exclusion from the squad, having sustained an ankle injury in Pakistan’s New Year’s Test in Cape Town against South Africa.
Speaking on the decision to drop Ayub, Asad Shafiq, a member of the National Selection Committee explained,
“We understand how much he was looking forward to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and recognise how devastating it must be for him to miss a global event, especially when he is in such exceptional batting form.”
He added, “However, as a valuable asset to our team, we are committed to prioritising his long-term health over making any rushed decisions.”
Pakistan squad for Champions Trophy 2025:
Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
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