Can Pakistan Defend Champions Trophy Title?

Islamabad: Pakistan barely made it to the 2017 Champions Trophy but defied the odds to win the title, defeating arch-rivals India in the final. This time, qualification for the 2025 edition was never in question, as hosts earn an automatic spot—and Pakistan is set to host the tournament. However, the team’s recent performances, selection choices, and overall preparations have sparked serious concerns.

Their struggles in the Tri-Nation series against New Zealand suggest that defending the title, even on home soil, will be anything but easy.

Lack of vision and planning in the spin department

Pakistan’s struggles in the middle overs were evident in 2023, with their spinners managing just 12 wickets in 10 matches—an alarming average of nearly 90.

They conceded over a run per ball and took a wicket only after 14.4 overs on average, a dismal record for a subcontinental team traditionally reliant on spin.

In stark contrast, Afghanistan’s spinners, widely regarded as the best in the game, dominated the same tournament. They claimed 32 wickets and struck every 8.2 overs, highlighting the gulf in effectiveness between the two sides.

To fix this glaring issue, Pakistan needed a consistent ODI series to test and refine its spin options. However, an entire year passed without a single ODI until the tour of Australia in November. Against the Kangaroos and Proteas, Pakistan’s success largely hinged on fast bowling—yet the Champions Trophy will not be played in pace-friendly conditions like Australia or South Africa.

In Pakistan and the UAE, spin plays a crucial role, but Pakistan lacks seasoned white-ball spinners beyond Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, and Usama Mir—the same trio that underperformed in the last major tournament. While Abrar Ahmed has shown promise, he remains the only reliable spinner in the lineup, leaving Pakistan without a strong option to support him.

Pakistan has pace trio in Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf, who have secured their spots with performances. However, none of them can fill the crucial No. 7 role—a position typically reserved for finishers who can contribute with both bat and ball.

To address this, Agha Salman was assigned the role of the fifth bowler, while Khushdil Shah was slotted at No. 7 to provide additional batting and bowling depth. Yet, even their biggest supporters would admit that neither is a reliable option, especially on flat tracks against top-tier teams like India.

When Pakistan faces tough opposition on batting-friendly surfaces during the Champions Trophy, many will question whether opting for Khushdil was the right call. Wouldn’t it have been wiser to back Shadab Khan, banking on his eight years of experience to deliver when it matters most?

Unsettling a settled batting lineup

Pakistan’s batting lineup has never inspired full confidence. However, despite their inconsistency, the top and middle order showed enough promise in the 2023 World Cup to avoid a complete overhaul.

That said, a closer look at the current batting order reveals a significant reshuffle. Apart from Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan, every other batter has been moved to a new position—raising concerns about stability and adaptability ahead of the Champions Trophy.

The most puzzling decision has been the reshuffling of Babar Azam’s batting position. With a stellar average of 60 at No. 3, there was no logical reason to move him.

All the selection committee needed to do was choose either Imam-ul-Haq or Abdullah Shafique to replace the injured Saim Ayub.

Instead, they disrupted a settled batting order, creating unnecessary uncertainty about players’ roles.

If the Tri-Nation series was meant to help finalize Pakistan’s best XI for the Champions Trophy, it has only raised more questions than answers. For instance, Babar’s record as an opener is unimpressive—averaging just 17—whereas he thrives at No. 3 with the best average, making his ideal position in ODIs clear.

Similarly, Saud Shakeel, who averaged a decent 35 at No. 5 during the 2023 World Cup, has now been pushed up to No. 3, where he managed only 23 runs across two games—further highlighting the mismanagement of Pakistan’s batting order.

Khushdil Shah’s inclusion in the squad remains highly questionable. He earned his spot based on an impressive all-round performance in the 2025 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), yet he has failed to meet the expectations so far. He have had his chances in the past, and if he once again fails to justify his selection, it could deal a serious blow to his career, potentially closing the door on future opportunities at the highest level.

Death bowling woes

On November 11, 2021, in Dubai, Australia needed 20 runs off 10 balls in the T20 World Cup semi-final. Matthew Wade mistimed a slog to deep mid-wicket, but Hasan Ali spilled a crucial catch. The Aussies ran two singles before Wade turned the game on its head—scooping one six over short fine leg, whipping another over midwicket, and repeating the scoop to seal Australia’s place in the final.

Since that moment, doubts have lingered over Shaheen Afridi’s ability to contain world-class batters in the death overs. The issue has surfaced repeatedly—Virat Kohli’s two stunning sixes off Haris Rauf in Melbourne and Sri Lanka’s onslaught against Naseem Shah in the 2022 Asia Cup final are just a few examples. Set batters have consistently found ways to exploit Pakistan’s pacers in the closing stages, making death bowling one of the team’s biggest vulnerabilities.

Pakistan’s inability to defend totals becomes glaringly obvious on batting-friendly surfaces. In the Tri-Nation Series, their bowling unit crumbled under pressure, conceding 123 runs in the last 10 overs against New Zealand and leaking another 110 against South Africa in the following match.

Heinrich Klaasen, one of the most destructive hitters in world cricket, has repeatedly punished Pakistan’s bowlers. His last four knocks against them—87 off 56, 81 off 43, 97 off 74, and 86 off 97—highlight just how vulnerable Pakistan’s attack is, especially in the death overs.

With an ineffective spin department and unreliable options at the back end, the skipper will have plenty to worry about—particularly when defending totals under lights, where the dew factor further tilts the contest in favor of chasing teams.

Middle-overs challenge

Mohammad Rizwan, the most successful captain in PSL history, understands the importance of chasing in Pakistan. PSL stats consistently show that teams batting second win nearly 75% of the time. This trend was even more pronounced during the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE. However, in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, the toss played a far less decisive role, with no clear advantage for teams batting second.

The upcoming Champions Trophy, crucially, will be in the ODI format—where matches are often decided in the middle overs. Pakistan’s ability to handle spin while batting and take wickets during this phase with the ball will be the key factors in determining their success.