KARACHI: The ninth edition of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy, known as the Mini World Cup, will be held from February 19 to March 9, 2025, in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Teams have started announcing their squads for the event, and defending champions Pakistan are expected to have seven batsmen, four fast bowlers, three spinners and one wicketkeeper-batsman in their team.
Reports say that Mohammad Rizwan will be the lone wicket-keeper-batsman for Pakistan in the mega event. Usman Khan, who was included as the second wicket-keeper in the squad during the South Africa One-Day International (ODI) series, is unlikely to make the Champions Trophy squad.
For the fast bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf are likely to be included in the squad with Mohammad Hasnain also in contention for the fourth fast bowler spot.
As far as spinners are concerned, former vice-captain and all-rounder Shadab Khan is expected to make a strong return to the team along with Abrar Ahmed and Sufyan Muqim.
Shadab Khan, who was dropped from the national team after the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the United States in June 2024, was not selected for Pakistan’s tours to Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. However, he has been retained on the Pakistan Cricket Board’s central contract for the 2024-25 season in Category C.
After being dropped from the team, Shadab Khan played five matches in the Champions One-Day Trophy for the Panthers, scoring 120 runs and taking 5 wickets off 192 balls. In the T20 Champions Trophy, he played six matches, scoring 24 runs and conceding just 18 balls.
Imam-ul-Haq, the 29-year-old left-handed batsman, is also expected to return for the Champions Trophy. Imam has scored 3,138 runs at an average of 48.27 in 72 ODIs for Pakistan. His last 50-over match was against South Africa on October 27, 2023, in the ICC World Cup.
After being dropped, Imam scored 212 runs in four matches at an average of 53.00 in the Champions One-Day Trophy, and in the Champions T20 T20, he scored 256 runs at an average of 36.67 in nine matches for the Lions.
Another major expectation is the return of strong opener Fakhar Zaman. The 34-year-old left-handed batsman, who has played 82 ODIs for Pakistan, is subject to fitness requirements as per his central contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board. Fakhr was not selected for the tours of Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, but he recently impressed in the Champions T20 Tournament, scoring 303 runs at an average of 30.30 in 10 matches, including two half-centuries.
Hence, the return of Shadab, Imam and Fakhar Zaman to the Champions Trophy squad looks very likely.