Three Pakistan players who might not play in Champions Trophy 2025
Haris Rauf burst through Australia's middle order. Photo: Cricket Australia/File
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a strong 15-player squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy and ODI Tri-series, with standout inclusions like Fakhar Zaman, Saud Shakeel, Faheem Ashraf, and Khushdil Shah.
However, several players in the squad may not feature in a single game during the Champions Trophy.
Mohammad Hasnain
Despite taking 17 wickets in 14 ODIs, Mohammad Hasnain is unlikely to make it to the playing XI. Pakistan's preferred pacers, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf, are expected to take the field, leaving Hasnain on the sidelines.
Usman Khan
A powerful stroke-maker, Usman Khan has impressed in domestic List-A cricket, scoring 681 runs at an average of 75.66. However, having never played an ODI for Pakistan and only making the squad due to Saim Ayub’s injury, he is unlikely to be selected, with Saud Shakeel and Kamran Ghulam favored in the batting lineup.
Tayyab Tahir
With an impressive List-A record, Tayyab Tahir has accumulated over 3,350 runs at an average of 47.22. However, due to the presence of Mohammad Rizwan and Agha Salman in the key middle-order spots, and Kamran Ghulam's flexibility as a batter, Tahir might not see any playing time during the Champions Trophy.