Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the highly anticipated team for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 and the Tri-Nation Series on Friday. The team includes specialist opener Fakhar Zaman as the lone opener. Fakhar Zaman made a comeback to Pakistan’s One Day International team after ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, and is now facing the absence of his partner, opener Imam-ul-Haq, who couldn’t secure a spot in the final squad due to a knee injury. Abdullah Shafique also couldn’t make it to the team due to recent poor performances. National selector Asad Shafiq, addressing the situation in a statement issued by the PCB, mentioned that star batsmen Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel could be potential opening partners for Fakhar Zaman. He further stated that the decision for Fakhar’s opening partner will be based on various factors such as conditions, opposition, and match strategy.
Asad Shafiq commented, “The return of Fakhar Zaman is a significant addition for our top order. His aggressive style and ability to win matches are crucial for our game plan. Similarly, Saud Shakeel has been included in the team to strengthen the batting. He is in top form especially in Test cricket under local conditions. He is an experienced, intelligent, and adaptable batsman who excels in building partnerships.” He added, “Either Babar Azam or Saud Shakeel will be selected as Fakhar’s opening partner. Both players can showcase excellent performance in the opening position. Babar Azam, in particular, is experienced in this role and has consistently opened in T20 Internationals. He also scored two half-centuries in the Cape Town Test in the absence of Imam-ul-Haq.”
**Pakistan’s Team for Tri-Nation Series and Champions Trophy 2025:**
Mohammad Rizwan (Captain), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (Vice-Captain), Usman Khan, Ibrahim Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Nasim Shah, and Shaheen Afridi.
