The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the squad for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 and the tri-nation series featuring Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa. The squad has four changes from the last ODI series in South Africa. Abdullah Shafique, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, and Sufyan Moqim have been replaced by Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, and Saud Shakeel.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 has been named captain, with Salman Ali Agha as vice-captain. The squad includes three members from the 2017 title-winning side: Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, and Fakhar Zaman. Fakhar, Babar, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Saud Shakeel also played in the ICC Men’s 50-over Cricket World Cup 2023. Pakistan has won three ODI series since then, beating Australia 2-1, Zimbabwe 2-1, and South Africa 3-0.
Fakhar Zaman returns after recovering from injury and illness that kept him out since June 2024. He showed strong form in the Champions T20 Cup 2024, scoring 303 runs at a strike rate of over 132. In 82 ODIs, he has 3,492 runs with 11 centuries and 16 half-centuries at an average of 46.5 and a strike rate of 93.4. Saud Shakeel earned his spot through consistent Test performances. He last played an ODI in the 2023 World Cup but has since scored 577 runs in 13 Test innings at home, including two centuries and two half-centuries.
Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah return to strengthen the squad. Faheem last played an ODI in September 2023 and has been a top performer in domestic cricket. Khushdil last played in August 2022 and has earned his place with strong performances in the Champions One-Day Cup and Champions T20 Cup. The squad may be changed until February 11, after which replacements will only be allowed on medical grounds with ICC approval. Pakistan will first compete in the tri-nation series, starting February 8 against New Zealand at Gaddafi Stadium, before the Champions Trophy begins on February 19.
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