Selection Sprint: PCB Finalising Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Fakhar Zaman secures spot, Imam-ul-Haq and Haseebullah under consideration

Wed Jan 22 2025
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ISLAMABAD: With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 set to begin next month, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is in the final stages of finalising Pakistan’s squad for the mega tournament scheduled to be played in Pakistan and Dubai in February and March.

Before the main event, the team will compete in a tri-nation series against South Africa and New Zealand. A key point of discussion is the potential inclusion of Saim Ayub, who is currently healing from an ankle fracture.

In case Saim is cleared for play, the same squad is likely to represent Pakistan in both the tri-series and the Champions Trophy. Should he be unavailable, selectors have a backup plan in place.

Selectors are expected to overlook the struggling Abdullah Shafique and Usman Khan, while Fakhar Zaman has secured his spot. The inclusion of Imam-ul-Haq and rising star Haseebullah is still under review.

The squad will feature stalwarts like Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, and Irfan Khan. On the bowling front, Pakistan will lean on their formidable pace attack, including Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf, alongside Mohammad Hasnain.

They will also have support from Kamran Ghulam, leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, and young spinner Sufiyan Muqeem.

Interestingly, Pakistan remains the only team yet to officially announce its squad for the tournament. While preliminary names have been submitted to the ICC, the final roster must be confirmed by February 11, leaving a tight window before the tri-series kicks off on February 8.

The eight-team tournament will feature 15 matches held from February 19 to March 9 across three venues—Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi in Pakistan and Dubai.

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The teams are split into two groups: Group A includes Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, while Group B comprises Afghanistan, South Africa, England, and Australia.

Hosts Pakistan will kick off the tournament against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi, with the highly anticipated showdown against arch-rivals India scheduled for February 23 in Dubai.

ICC Champions Trophy Schedule

19 February, Pakistan v New Zealand, Karachi, Pakistan

20 February, Bangladesh v India, Dubai

21 February, Afghanistan v South Africa, Karachi, Pakistan

22 February, Australia v England, Lahore, Pakistan

23 February, Pakistan v India, Dubai

24 February, Bangladesh v New Zealand, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

25 February, Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

26 February, Afghanistan v England, Lahore, Pakistan

27 February, Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

28 February, Afghanistan v Australia, Lahore, Pakistan

1 March, South Africa v England, Karachi, Pakistan

2 March, New Zealand v India, Dubai

4 March, Semi-final 1, Dubai

5 March, Semi-final 2, Lahore, Pakistan

9 March, Final, Lahore (unless India qualify, when it will be played in Dubai)

10 March, Reserve Day

 

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