LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled a 15-member squad on Friday for the upcoming tri-nation series, which includes Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa, along with the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.
This squad sees four changes from the previous 15-player lineup that played in South Africa last year. Abdullah Shafique, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, and Sufyan Moqim have been replaced by Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, and Saud Shakeel.
The squad will be led by Mohammad Rizwan, with Salman Ali Agha serving as vice-captain. Among the selected players, three — Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, and Fakhar Zaman — were part of the 2017 Champions Trophy-winning side. Additionally, Babar, Fakhar, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Saud Shakeel had all featured in the ICC Men's 50-over World Cup 2023.
Pakistan has had strong performances in ODIs following the World Cup, winning series against 50-over World Cup champions Australia (2-1), Zimbabwe (2-1), and South Africa (3-0). Fakhar Zaman, who was sidelined since June 2024 due to injury and illness, returns to the squad after proving his fitness in the Champions T20 Cup 2024. In that tournament, he was the third-highest run-scorer with 303 runs at a strike-rate of over 132. With 3,492 runs in 82 ODIs, Fakhar brings crucial experience to the side.
Saud Shakeel, the Pakistan Test vice-captain, earns his place in the squad after consistent performances in home Tests, scoring 577 runs this season, including two centuries. His last ODI appearance was during the World Cup 2023 against England.
Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah, both all-rounders, also make a return to the squad. Faheem has been one of the top domestic performers since his last ODI in September 2023. Khushdil, who last played ODIs in August 2022, earned his spot after an impressive showing in the Champions One-Day Cup and the Champions T20 Cup, scoring 176 and 132 runs, respectively, while also taking nine wickets.
The squad is set for the tri-nation ODI series against New Zealand and South Africa in Lahore and Karachi, starting February 8, before heading into the Champions Trophy 2025, which runs from February 19 to March 9. The matches will take place across three venues in Pakistan — Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi — as well as Dubai.
The final squad is subject to changes until February 11, after which replacements will only be permitted for medical reasons.
Pakistan Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule:
- February 19: Pakistan vs New Zealand (Karachi)
- February 20: Bangladesh vs India (Dubai)
- February 21: Afghanistan vs South Africa (Karachi)
- February 22: Australia vs England (Lahore)
- February 23: Pakistan vs India (Dubai)
- February 24: Bangladesh vs New Zealand (Rawalpindi)
- February 25: Australia vs South Africa (Rawalpindi)
- February 26: Afghanistan vs England (Lahore)
- February 27: Pakistan vs Bangladesh (Rawalpindi)
- February 28: Afghanistan vs Australia (Lahore)
- March 1: South Africa vs England (Karachi)
- March 2: New Zealand vs India (Dubai)
- March 4: Semi-final 1 (Dubai)
- March 5: Semi-final 2 (Lahore)
- March 9: Final (Lahore, unless India qualifies, then in Dubai)
All matches will be day-night encounters.
