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[PICTURE/VIDEO] ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan announce 15-member squad

Are you satisfied with the selection of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad for Pakistan?

  • Total voters
    50
Faheem and Khushdil always have been a failure in international team

Needed another spinner in team
 
YousafTheBeast said:
Salman agha and Khushdil are guaranteed picks in the XI, they’ll both have to bowl 5 overs each.
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So much load will be on Salman in middle order to score quick runs. Saud is an accumulator. Kamran has been hacking of late. Usman is not of international Standard. Khushdil is a hit or miss. Tayyab can maybe provide a helping hand.
 
Irfan Khan was slowly coming into his own. This tournament would have been great for him. He's easily the best fielder on the side now with Saim away and Riz behind the stumps. Shameful dropping him.

Faheem is as useless as players come. The biggest tried and tested failure on the team now. He lives off his exploits against BD in the 2017 CT warmup.

And wowww Khushdil given a chance because he has been performing in the BPL of all leagues.

Man this issue remains. A couple of good selections like Fakhar and Saud do not override this overall mess. Disappointed.
 
This will be starting line up..

Fakhar
Babar
Saud
Rizwan
Salman
Kamran
Khushdil
Afridi
Naseem
Haris
Abrar

Usman
Hasnain
Faheem
Tayyab
 
hafizexpress said:
Irfan Khan was slowly coming into his own. This tournament would have been great for him. He's easily the best fielder on the side now with Saim away and Riz behind the stumps. Shameful dropping him.

Faheem is as useless as players come. The biggest tried and tested failure on the team now. He lives off his exploits against BD in the 2017 CT warmup.

And wowww Khushdil given a chance because he has been performing in the BPL of all leagues.

Man this issue remains. A couple of good selections like Fakhar and Saud do not override this overall mess. Disappointed.
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I watched that game ... lol
 
I would have taken Abbas Afridi or even Wasim Jr over Faheem.

Even Rauf doesn't belong. He's good for Aus conditions but that's about it. He got absolutely pummelled in the last WC in India and will meet a similar fate in this CT.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Good to know that's your understanding of cricket. Will be sure to ignore anything you say going forward.
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Oh wow, triggered much? Can’t believe Misbah still has die-hard fans in 2025. Not everything revolves around him, mate move on. This comment is getting old, just like his tuk-tuk batting. And for the record, this has nothing to do with cricket knowledge you just have to hate a player with respect.🫡
 
Wow! Only one spinner? Are the games happening in England? Or do they plan to spray MiracleGro every evening for the grass to grow?
Looks like Pakistan missed a trick there.
 
hafizexpress said:
I would have taken Abbas Afridi or even Wasim Jr over Faheem.

Even Rauf doesn't belong. He's good for Aus conditions but that's about it. He got absolutely pummelled in the last WC in India and will meet a similar fate in this CT.
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Oh yesss how can we miss abbass. He is a good bowler and also a handy bat
 
charlie007 said:
Wow! Only one spinner? Are the games happening in England? Or do they plan to spray MiracleGro every evening for the grass to grow?
Looks like Pakistan missed a trick there.
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They will miss either Sufyan or Faisal. Would've been great against SENA teams to play both Abrar and left arm Chinaman
 
RidiculousMan said:
So much load will be on Salman in middle order to score quick runs. Saud is an accumulator. Kamran has been hacking of late. Usman is not of international Standard. Khushdil is a hit or miss. Tayyab can maybe provide a helping hand.
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It’s the best possible selection when it comes to the batters.

However, I would’ve had another spinner in place of either Faheem or Hasnain, there was no need to go with 5 pacers.
 
Where the hell did Usman Khan come from? And why Faheem? Not too sure about Fakhar, he is never consistent. Got mixed feelings about this. Shame about Saim Ayub.
 
Markhor said:
One of the worst white ball cricketers to have played more than 10 matches makes his grand comeback.

Faheem Ashraf has an ODI batting average of 10 and bowling average of 46.

If only the two were reversed.
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If only Aamer Jamal would've gotten as many Odis as him
 
Mohraheem said:
Oh wow, triggered much? Can’t believe Misbah still has die-hard fans in 2025. Not everything revolves around him, mate move on. This comment is getting old, just like his tuk-tuk batting. And for the record, this has nothing to do with cricket knowledge you just have to hate a player with respect.🫡
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This coming from he guy who said Misbah is to blame for the 1999 WC final loss. Okay, troll.
 
These backward selections frustrate the hell out of me. Suffiyan Muqeem has been hard done by. On what basis have Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf been recalled?

How can you go into a premier tournament with just one major front line spinner?
 
This is actually very good team apart from Usman ' Tullebaaz ' Khan

Pakistan should have selected one more spinner in place of Tullebaaz Khan

Anyways he is selected as an extra WK so he will not get a game anyway.

Babar
Fakhar
Saud
Rizwan
Kamran
Agha
Khushdil
Abrar
Naseem
Rauf
Shaheen


Very solid team and this team has very good batting depth.

easily favourite to win the champion trophy.

:kp
 
Savak said:
These backward selections frustrate the hell out of me. Suffiyan Muqeem has been hard done by. On what basis have Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf been recalled?

How can you go into a premier tournament with just one major front line spinner?
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Australia always go with one spinner nobody criticise them and they always win world cups with their fast bowlers.
 
Savak said:
These backward selections frustrate the hell out of me. Suffiyan Muqeem has been hard done by. On what basis have Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf been recalled?

How can you go into a premier tournament with just one major front line spinner?
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I can sense a massive thrashing coming against India.
 
Fakhar
Babar
Saud
Kamran Ghulam
Rizwan
Salman
Khushi
Faheem
Shaheen
Naseem
Rauf

Adding Faheem only because number has to be able to bat.
 
I actually like this squad, some great selections there like Saud and Khushdil.

Basically once Saim got injured, you needed two players to replace him, a top order batsman (Saud) and a batsman who could bowl (Khushdil). That's why Irfan Khan had to be sacrificed.

The only questionable selection is that of Faheem over a second spinner in Muqeem. Not sure what the thinking is but it could be to play a pace bowling all-rounder against subcontinent sides but he isn't a no 7, so in any case, this should have been a non-starter.
 
Horrible squad, lack of imagination. Aqib Javed avi is going off tonight. Huge disappointment. I still wish Pakistan team best of luck, and i hope they beat India and Nzland in group stage.
 
Faheem Ashraf who claims to be a bowling all rounder with an avg of 47 and batting avg of 10 with a SR of 81 gets picked for what exact reason?

Aren't these stats enough to suggest that the time and investment this guy had over the last 8 years did not do anything.

He was out of the ODI set up for just over a year and because they got nobody else, they picked him?
 
It's an expected squad minus a few shockers along the edges.

Fakhar Zaman
Mohammad Rizwan (C) (WK)
Babar Azam
Saud Shakeel
Kamran Ghulam
Salman Ali Agha
Khushdil Shah
Shaheen Afridi
Naseem Shah
Haris Rauf
Abrar Ahmed

I think this might be the best way forward. I don't like seeing Babar opening because that's taking your best ODI batsman out of his preferred spot.

I would try Rizwan as an opener and see how it goes in the tri-series. This is more to keep Babar where is rather than a preference for Rizwan as an opener.

I know people will mention the opening partner for Fakhar, but there are two major weaknesses in the team - lack of power-hitting in the middle order + the fifth bowling option with Saim out. Agha + Khushdil is just not the same.

It's an okay team and will depend a lot on the bowlers. Hopefully, home conditions bolster them a bit and give them a boost.
 
kingusama92 said:
It's an expected squad minus a few shockers along the edges.

Fakhar Zaman
Mohammad Rizwan (C) (WK)
Babar Azam
Saud Shakeel
Kamran Ghulam
Salman Ali Agha
Khushdil Shah
Shaheen Afridi
Naseem Shah
Haris Rauf
Abrar Ahmed

I think this might be the best way forward. I don't like seeing Babar opening because that's taking your best ODI batsman out of his preferred spot.

I would try Rizwan as an opener and see how it goes in the tri-series. This is more to keep Babar where is rather than a preference for Rizwan as an opener.

I know people will mention the opening partner for Fakhar, but there are two major weaknesses in the team - lack of power-hitting in the middle order + the fifth bowling option with Saim out. Agha + Khushdil is just not the same.

It's an okay team and will depend a lot on the bowlers. Hopefully, home conditions bolster them a bit and give them a boost.
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One of the most sensible posts in this thread thus far.
 
Rana said:
Usman Khan scored 50 off 30 in a T20 game where Rizwan scored 16 off 26 in the powerplay

If he’s a failure then your captain Laanat is a Huuuuge failure!
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one off innings means nothing. His batting is flawed.

bro try to be decent, no need to use words like laanat etc
 
Major said:
one off innings means nothing. His batting is flawed.

bro try to be decent, no need to use words like laanat etc
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Fair but Usman never got a fair run and his best format is Odi courtesy of his list A performance.

But yes his technique is weird.
 
Major said:
Aamir Jamal is garbage. But Faheem was not the answer.

They should had gone for Jahandad Khan here if they wanted a pace allroudner.
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Aamir Jamal averages 12 with the bat and economy well over 6 in domestics. Good that he isn't selected. We seriously need a proper pace bowling all rounder. None of these guys are the answer.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
I would rather have Tayyab. Atleast he played a good innings against India A in the Emerging Asia Cup final a couple of years ago. Usman Khan does not deserve to play international cricket for Pakistan.
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Same, between the two i would go Tayyab. Usman Khan has been a terrible batter. But i get it why Rizwan went for him.

Whats bothering me is how did these guys say ok to Fahim Ashraf? And why they didnt go for another spinner.
 
Major said:
You can either keep Tayyab or Usman not both. As both are flawed.
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Usman is in cause of keeping clause and I'm not the one who selected the squad.

I don't forward the decison. I want usman khan to be tested in odi but not right before a world cup. And a tri series isn't enough time.
 
Major said:
Same, between the two i would go Tayyab. Usman Khan has been a terrible batter. But i get it why Rizwan went for him.

Whats bothering me is how did these guys say ok to Fahim Ashraf? And why they didnt go for another spinner.
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Faheem Ashraf's selection cannot be justified in any way whatsoever. He did not do well in the Champions Cup, he has not played ODI cricket in two years, and the last time he played Kohli and Rahul treated him like a school cricketer. His ODI numbers are absolutely horrific and never in his career has he shown that he is anything more than a tailender with bat. He should be in jail for calling himself an all-rounder.
 
You have one match in UAE, where spinners play a big role. And you go with one spinner?

India match is lost.

This is World Cup 2023 all over again. Back than Babar messed up by not having Abrar, this time Rizwan messed up with not having another spinner.

we are taking 9 batters, this shows that there is lack of confidence in the already existing batters.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Faheem Ashraf's selection cannot be justified in any way whatsoever. He did not do well in the Champions Cup, he has not played ODI cricket in two years, and the last time he played Kohli and Rahul treated him like a school cricketer. His ODI numbers are absolutely horrific and never in his career has he shown that he is anything more than a tailender with bat. He should be in jail for calling himself an all-rounder.
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I actually want someone from the team to accept that this was a PMLN selection and not the selection committeee. I just want that confirmation, because if this was a geniune selection, than im just lost of words.
 
Fakhar Zaman & Babar Azam opening is a good idea. With this hopefully Saud will shift to No.3.

HOWEVER!!!!

What on earth is RANA FAHEEM ASHRAF doing there. With Usman Khan & Khushdil Shah not to mention just 1 spinner. Sajid Khan could have been a good X factor like entity, specially considering the lack of batting ability from the tail.

What is this begaritee

1. Fakhar Zaman
2. Babar Azam
3. Saud Shakeel
4. Mohammad Rizwan (C/WK)
5. Kamran Ghulam
6. Agha Ali Salman
7. Khushdil Shah/Faheem Ashraf 😡
8. Naseem Shah
9. Shaheen Shah Afridi
10. Haris Rauf
11. Abrar Ahmed

This squad is irritating.
 
TeymurBlake said:
Fakhar Zaman & Babar Azam opening is a good idea. With this hopefully Saud will shift to No.3.

HOWEVER!!!!

What on earth is RANA FAHEEM ASHRAF doing there. With Usman Khan & Khushdil Shah not to mention just 1 spinner. Sajid Khan could have been a good X factor like entity, specially considering the lack of batting ability from the tail.

What is this begaritee

1. Fakhar Zaman
2. Babar Azam
3. Saud Shakeel
4. Mohammad Rizwan (C/WK)
5. Kamran Ghulam
6. Agha Ali Salman
7. Khushdil Shah/Faheem Ashraf 😡
8. Naseem Shah
9. Shaheen Shah Afridi
10. Haris Rauf
11. Abrar Ahmed

This squad is irritating.
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I would open with Saud and have Babar at 3. I see no reason to move Babar out of the position he has batted in all of his career. But Asad Shafiq seems to insinuate that it can be Babar or Saud depending on conditions and opposition. Which is such a dumb idea. Now these idiots think this is T20.

At 7 I would rather take Khushdil over Faheem.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
I would open with Saud and have Babar at 3. I see no reason to move Babar out of the position he has batted in all of his career. But Asad Shafiq seems to insinuate that it can be Babar or Saud depending on conditions and opposition. Which is such a dumb idea. Now these idiots think this is T20.

At 7 I would rather take Khushdil over Faheem.
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I remember when England moved Kevin Pietersen to open with Strauss for the 2011 ODI WC & somewhat KP was success.

I am hoping, beyond hoping Babar can emulate somewhat opening with Fakhar.
 
TeymurBlake said:
I remember when England moved Kevin Pietersen to open with Strauss for the 2011 ODI WC & somewhat KP was success.

I am hoping, beyond hoping Babar can emulate somewhat opening with Fakhar.
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In many ways, Babar is Pakistan's most important batter. Because if he scores big than that sets up the innings beautifully for Pakistan and others can bat around him. Yes he has been out of form for quite some time but he still averages close to 57 in ODI cricket and has 19 centuries to his name. I'm not sure if exposing him to the new-ball is a good idea.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
I don't know why these idiots post stuff like this. Why would you want to ruin any future chances you have of getting selected? Just don't spill your guts out on social media. How hard is that?
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I might be wrong but I think he was recalled from BPL along with Khushdil and Usman to prepare for the CT. Hence why he feels betrayed. Probably a last minute switch up between him and Faheem.
 
Worst selection is usman khan. He adds nothing. Would have kept Irfan khan even just for 12th man as best fielder. No need for second keeper in home hosted even with so few games. You can easily bring keeper into squad if Rizwan truly got injured. There was no need for second keeper.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
In many ways, Babar is Pakistan's most important batter. Because if he scores big than that sets up the innings beautifully for Pakistan and others can bat around him. Yes he has been out of form for quite some time but he still averages close to 57 in ODI cricket and has 19 centuries to his name. I'm not sure if exposing him to the new-ball is a good idea.
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The other issue I have is this isn’t the same Fakhar Zaman from 2023.

He has aged & reflexes have slowed down kind of like David Warner did & Aaron Finch.

So the will be more attacking approach/intent from the other batters.
 
TeymurBlake said:
The other issue I have is this isn’t the same Fakhar Zaman from 2023.

He has aged & reflexes have slowed down kind of like David Warner did & Aaron Finch.

So the will be more attacking approach/intent from the other batters.
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FAKHAR IS ALMOST FINISHED.WILL BE SURPRISED IF HE EVEN GETS INTO DOUBLE DIGITS IN ANY GAME.
 
Decent squad. The only shocker is Faheem Ashraf. Dude is awful .

The rest are all pretty logical/good selections.
 
I have had the chance to review the names in detail and have come to the conclusion that this is actually a decent squad based on resources available. There may have been the case for Sufiyan but I do understand the team thinking behind his exclusion. I am also super happy that fake allrounder Shadab wasn’t picked despite external pressure.

Let’s back the boys! 👊🇵🇰
 
Mind boggling, cumulative number of ODI matches played by CT squad of following teams:

Pakistan 532
India 1446
Australia 1148

*Kohli and Sharma alone has played more matches than entire Pakistan squad (560)

1738345487468.jpg
 
Strange squad selection. Only one main spinner, one main opener and Faheem's surprise inclusion. They've selected so many middle order batsmen and I am guessing it's largely because there is little trust amongst them outside of Rizwan & Salman.

I think they should have at least selected Imad over someone like Tayyab just so you have at least two proper openers in the squad in case trying Babar/Rizwan/Saud etc as opener doesn't work out.

I think Abbas or Jamal would have made more sense over Faheem. Faheem is decent in T20's but ODI wise he's done nothing of note.

Usman seems to have been selected in case they need a backup WK and they also hate Haris for whatever reason so I guess he was never getting selected. Haseebullah is injured and unavailable.

One spinner is interesting. I am guessing its because spinners haven't been great in Pakistani conditions for white ball but Dubai could see need for two spinners but I don't blame them for not trusting Sufiyan enough to play in this tournament. Salman has surprisingly been good as a spinner so I guess they're putting in a lot of faith in him & Khushdil to be enough spin for the tournament.

Likely lineup:
Fakhar
Saud
Babar
Rizwan
KG
Salman
Khushdil
Shaheen
Naseem
Rauf
Hasnain/Abrar
 
Faheem Ashraf has been performing well with the ball in the BPL, and the same goes for Khushdil. However, everyone knows the quality standards of the BPL. Once again, the selectors are contradicting themselves by selecting players based on their performances in overseas leagues while ignoring those excelling in the domestic circuit, such as Shadab Khan, Aamer Jamal, Jehandad Khan, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Imam-ul-Haq.

There is no way this squad is good.
Jehandad Khan, Imam, Sufiyan, Shadab, and Aamer Jamal should have been selected.
 
TeymurBlake said:
The other issue I have is this isn’t the same Fakhar Zaman from 2023.

He has aged & reflexes have slowed down kind of like David Warner did & Aaron Finch.

So the will be more attacking approach/intent from the other batters.
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He hasn't exactly played ODI since so its unfair to judge him. At the end of the day, he's a clutch player. I will never forget the innings he played against New Zealand in the World Cup.
 
Let's not go overboard. Besides certain selections, this is more or less the expected squad. Babar, Rizwan, Fakhar, Shaheen, Haris, Agha, Abrar, Naseem, Ghulam, Saud all deserve to be there.

Hasnain, Tayyab Tahir were there in previous squads, and are there more in a back-up role.

Khushdil is acceptable as an back-up.

Faheem and Usman are the only surprising truly awful selections.
 
shaz619 said:
Am glad to see Fakhar back, so as a consequence of this, I am willing to overlook the random numpty they’ve bought in because in Pakistan cricket, for anything good, you have to settle for something inexplicably terrible.

I would have liked to have seen Noman Ali, interesting they are going with one spinner.

I don’t think they are going to prepare spinning pitches, expect the wickets to be a lot flatter.

I don’t know about the politics or injury status but I’d have liked to have seen the following names being considered:

- Harris Sohail
- Mohammad Aamir
- Imad Wasim
- Sharjeel Khan
- Mohammad Wasim Jnr
- Ihsanullah
- Mohammad Harris
- Noman Ali
- Sajid Khan
- Usama Mir
- Abbas Afridi

I don’t know what to make of Rizwan’s selections really or what the strategy is, but my initial feeling is that the CT squad is very safe.

Anyway, Fakhar & Babar should probably open.
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This is 2025, not 2017
 
With Saim missing out through injury Babar will open with Fakhar.

IK batting at 7 was a better choice for that role.

TT is not that player.

Akif, Jahandad or Abbas afridi could of been selected in Hasnain s place.

Hasnain s rhythm isn't there yet which is a concern even though he is a back up to the trio of S R N.

With the squad selected I would go with this starting X1 and beef up the batting as a strong lower order could be the key to retaining the CT.

Fakhar
Babar
KG
Riz
Saud
Salman Ali
Khushdil
Faheem
Shaheen
Rauf
Abrar

8 bowling options for Riz.
 
I would have picked Noman instead of Tayab. He has bowling well in home conditions, can bat and not a bad fielder. Abrar is flaky, once he gets targeted he will give away boundaries like water on tap.
And there won't be another front line spinner to replace him in squad. Very poor planning by the selectors.
 
It'll be tragic if the final of this tournament is in Dubai, or maybe not, idk what's the ticket revenue distribution so a final in Dubai can actually lift PCBs financials massively.

An Ind vs. Pak final in Dubai will probably fetch premium ticket pricing. Even if it's not that but Ind vs. Australia will be something similar.
 
Faheem and Khushdil, typical of pakistan to pick TTFs instead of developing players. Only one specialist spinner, and still Wasim Jr is in the wilderness. Don't like the look of this squad.
 
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