Pakistan’s reliable opener, Imam-ul-Haq, reacted on social media after not being selected for the Champions Trophy squad, tweeting, “Journey Isn’t Over.” The 29-year-old had previously been a first-choice opening batsman alongside Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam. He burst onto the scene due to his consistent performances both at home and during overseas tours.
However, his ODI performance in 2023 declined, leading to his exclusion from the team. He continued to participate in the PSL, consistently scoring runs and found success in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2024-2025, where he scored three centuries and one half-century.
With Saim Ayub, Pakistan’s recent reliable opener, sidelined due to injury, experts and fans anticipated that Imam’s name would be considered for selection. However, the PCB selection committee had different plans, opting for Fakhar Zaman for his ability to open the batting.
It’s possible that if Babar Azam opens the innings with Saud Shakeel, Zaman could play at the top as well. This could explain the PCB’s decision to choose Fakhar Zaman over Imam-ul-Haq.
Pakistan’s squad has developed a strong middle order with a flexible batting lineup. Since their last ICC trophy, Pakistan struggled with an unstable middle order; if the top order failed, it often spelled disaster. Recently, however, they have built a sturdy middle order featuring Captain Mohammed Rizwan, Salman Agha, and Kamran Ghulam, providing good batting depth.
Pakistan has mostly retained its ideal bowling lineup suited to local conditions, with four frontline pacers—Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Mohammed Hasnain—along with one frontline spinner, Abrar Ahmed, and various part-time options capable of exploiting the dry conditions in Pakistan.
Overall, Pakistan has assembled a strong lineup on paper, with no significant changes from their recent ODI matches, aside from losing Saim Ayub due to injury. With this in mind, they appear well-balanced and have the right backup in place, ready to defend their Champions Trophy title.
Pakistan’s squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy is a blend of experience and explosive talent, with a well-rounded team ready to defend their title. The squad includes:
Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Rizwan (c, wk), Khushdil Shah, Salman Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
