The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the national squad for the upcoming tri-nation series and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The champion trophy will kick off on February 19 and run until March 9.
Mohammad Rizwan will captain the team, with key players including Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, Saud Shakeel, and Faheem Ashraf making their return.
Discussing the squad selection, a member of the selection committee Asad Shafiq stated that players who have performed well in home conditions were given preference. He further mentioned that Fakhar Zaman’s opening partner could be Babar Azam or Saud Shakeel, depending on the team's strategy.
Shafiq also acknowledged the disappointment of Saim Ayub’s exclusion from the squad but emphasized that careful decisions were made to ensure the team’s balance.
Pakistan’s first match in the Champions Trophy will be against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi.
The same squad will also compete in the tri-nation ODI series against New Zealand and South Africa.
The full squad includes:
Mohammad Rizwan (Captain)
Agha Salman (Vice-Captain)
Babar Azam
Fakhar Zaman
Kamran Ghulam
Saud Shakeel
Tayyab Tahir
Khushdil Shah
Faheem Ashraf
Usman Khan
Abrar Ahmed
Haris Rauf
Mohammad Hasnain
Naseem Shah
Shaheen Shah Afridi