When will Pakistan’s Champions Trophy 2025 squad be announced?
Pakistan’s stunning ODI series win over Australia was the highlight of a great season for the Greenshirts and earned three of its players the honour to feature in ICC’s ODI Team of the Year. PHOTO: AFP
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to announce the squad for the upcoming Tri-Nation Series and Champions Trophy 2025 within the next two days.
The selection for both tournaments has been finalized following comprehensive consultations with national selectors. Sources indicate that key players, including Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Salman Agha, Kamran Ghulam, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, and Abrar Ahmed, are set to be included in the squad.
There are reports that Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, and Saud Shakeel will feature in both events.
However, the inclusion of young talent Saim Ayub remains uncertain due to an ongoing injury. Additionally, the names of Abbas Afridi and Aamir Jamal are under consideration for the final squad selection.
Despite the growing list of options, players such as Abdullah Shafique, Irfan Khan, Sufyan Muqeem, and Mohammad Hasnain are unlikely to make the cut.
The Pakistan ODI team is set to begin its preparations for the Tri-Nation Series on February 4. The series is crucial for Pakistan as they aim to defend their title against New Zealand and South Africa in the upcoming Champions Trophy.
New Zealand and South Africa are set to arrive in Lahore on February 5 and February 7, respectively. The Tri-Nation Series will kick off on February 8 with Pakistan facing New Zealand at Gaddafi Stadium.
Pakistan will then travel to Karachi on February 9, where the second match between South Africa and New Zealand will take place on February 10. The third match will see Pakistan face South Africa on February 12. The team that does not qualify for the final will head to the Champions Trophy venue, with the final scheduled for February 14 in Karachi.
The Tri-Nation Series will follow a single-league format with the following schedule:
February 8 – Pakistan vs New Zealand (d/n)
February 10 – New Zealand vs South Africa (d)
February 12 – Pakistan vs South Africa (d/n)
February 14 – Final (d/n)
Following the Tri-Nation Series, the Champions Trophy 2025 will begin on February 19 and run until March 9, with matches being held across three venues in Pakistan – Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi – as well as in Dubai. The eight-team tournament will feature 15 matches, offering a packed month of world-class cricket.
Here is the Champions Trophy schedule:
February 19 – Pakistan vs New Zealand, Karachi, Pakistan
February 20 – Bangladesh vs India, Dubai
February 21 – Afghanistan vs South Africa, Karachi, Pakistan
February 22 – Australia vs England, Lahore, Pakistan
February 23 – Pakistan vs India, Dubai
February 24 – Bangladesh vs New Zealand, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
February 25 – Australia vs South Africa, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
February 26 – Afghanistan vs England, Lahore, Pakistan
February 27 – Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
February 28 – Afghanistan vs Australia, Lahore, Pakistan
March 1 – South Africa vs England, Karachi, Pakistan
March 2 – New Zealand vs India, Dubai
March 4 – Semi-final 1, Dubai
March 5 – Semi-final 2, Lahore, Pakistan
March 9 – Final, Lahore (unless India qualify, in which case it will be played in Dubai)
March 10 – Reserve Day