ICC Champions Trophy 2025: PCB selectors' fake promises sparks outrage among Pakistan players
Published - 02 Feb 2025, 11:24 AM | Updated - 02 Feb 2025, 11:31 AM
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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finally announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The PCB and the selectors have made some questionable and controversial decisions, including the selection of Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, and Saud Shakeel in the 15-member squad for the upcoming prestigious tournament.
PAK selectors left out the rising hitter Saim Ayub as the PCB didn’t want to risk his recovery from the ankle injury, and the top-order batter Abdullah Shafique accommodated Babar Azam as an opener.
Pakistan squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 raises many eyebrows
A member of the national selection committee Asad Shafiq stated, “Fakhar’s opening partner could be either Babar Azam or Saud Shakeel, depending on various factors such as conditions, opposition, and match strategy.”
Overall, the PCB has made four changes to the 15-player squad from their 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 Abdullah Shafique, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, and Sufyan Moqim have been replaced by Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, and Saud Shakeel in the squad.
Interestingly, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, and Fakhar Zaman are the only members of Pakistan’s last ICC Champion Trophy-winning squad in 2017. Ther pace attack features Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, and Naseem Shah, while Abrar Ahmed will lead the spin attack in the upcoming 50-over ICC tournament.
PCB's selection drama leaves Pakistani players deeply disappointed
Meanwhile, the PCB and the national selectors have reportedly made fake promises to some cricketers over the selection for the tournament. Geo News Urdu journalist Arfa Feroz Zake revealed how the board and the selectors made a joke of themselves.
The journalist claimed that the PCB selectors assured several players of their spots in the 2025 Champions Trophy squad, but they picked up only a handful, which has left a few cricketers deeply disappointed and disheartened. However, he didn’t name any of those.
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The Geo News Urdu journalist posted on his X handle: “Moye Moye Scene!!🙏🏽 PCB selectors conveyed a message of confirmation in the squad of Pakistan for the Champions Trophy to many players but picked only a few of them. This is a reason a couple of ignored Pakistani players are very much disheartened with the squad for the Champions Trophy. #CT25”
Moye Moye Scene!!🙏🏽 PCB Selectors conveyed a message of confirmation in the squad of Pakistan for Champions Trophy to many players but picked only few of them. This is a reason couple of ignored Pakistani Players are very much dishearted with the squad for Champions Trophy. #CT25
— Arfa Feroz Zake (@ArfaSays_) February 1, 2025
Here's the Men in Green squad for Champions Trophy 2025:
Mohammad Rizwan (C), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf.
The same squad will play in the tri-nation ODI series against New Zealand and South Africa in Lahore and Karachi, ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025. PCB also confirmed that Aaqib Javed will continue his role as the interim coach of the side for the upcoming assignments.
The eight-nation event will kick off on February 19 in Karachi with the Men in Green taking on New Zealand in the tournament opener. Men in Green will then head to Dubai for the highly anticipated clash against India on February 23, followed by their final group match against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27.
