The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 and the tri-nation series featuring Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa. Fakhar Zaman makes a return to the team for both events.
The Champions Trophy will begin on February 19 and end on March 9. The squad sees four changes from the 15-player team that recently competed in South Africa’s ODI series in late 2024. Abdullah Shafique, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, and Sufyan Moqim have been replaced by Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, and Saud Shakeel.
Mohammad Rizwan will lead the squad, with Salman Ali Agha named vice-captain. Notably, three members from the 2017 Champions Trophy-winning team—Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, and Fakhar Zaman—are part of the lineup.
Fakhar Zaman’s return is a significant development, as he has been absent since June 2024 due to injury and illness. He showcased his form in the 2024 Champions T20 Cup, scoring 303 runs and becoming the third-highest run-scorer. Fakhar has 3,492 runs in 82 ODIs, including 11 centuries and 16 half-centuries, averaging 46.5.
Saud Shakeel, the Test vice-captain, has earned his place in the squad after impressive performances in home Tests, scoring 577 runs, including two centuries and two half-centuries. All-rounders Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah also make a return. Faheem has been consistent in domestic cricket, while Khushdil impressed in the Champions One-Day Cup with 176 runs and nine wickets.
Pakistan’s squad also includes Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
The tri-nation series will start on February 8 in Lahore, with Pakistan’s first match against New Zealand at Gaddafi Stadium. Afterward, the Champions Trophy will take place across four venues: Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Dubai.
The squad will remain open for changes until February 11, after which only medical replacements will be allowed, subject to approval by the ICC Event Technical Committee.
Pakistan Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (Captain), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
