Selectors advised to reconsider CT squad
With fabulous wins over Australia and South Africa, Pak ODI team is peaking at the right time for Champions Trophy 2025. PHOTO: AFP
The selection of Pakistan's Champions Trophy squad has sparked controversy, leading to calls for reconsideration. Pakistan announced their squad on Friday, January 31, via a press release. According to details, the Pakistani selectors announced the squad last, and the inclusion of Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah was met with strong criticism from the media and former cricketers. There was also surprise over the selection of only one specialist spinner and opener.
Sources suggest that recently, the selection committee was asked to review the announced squad. If there were any mistakes or shortcomings, they should be corrected. However, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has left the final decision to the selectors, as he does not want to interfere in their work.
Some former cricketers claimed that the inclusion of certain players in the squad was due to recommendations and political pressure. This reached senior board officials as well, but the selection committee insists that players were chosen on merit. It is important to note that the ICC has set February 11 as the last date for making changes to the squad without providing any reasons. After that, changes will only be allowed in case of injury, with approval from the technical committee.
According to sources, data was given great importance in the selection, but balance was not considered. However, the selectors themselves realized that the squad was not balanced, which is why, despite media presence in the stadium, the squad was announced via a press release. The first match of the Champions Trophy will be played on February 19 between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi. Before that, the Tri-Nation series will begin on February 8, with the host team, New Zealand, and South Africa participating.
Pakistan squad for tri-nation series and Champions Trophy 2025:
Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.