New Delhi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to announce the squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy which is scheduled to begin on February 19. India, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan have already announced their team for the tournament

Pakistan is the only team among eight to announce their squad for the ICC event. The initial deadline to announce the provisional squad for the tournament was January 12, five weeks before the start of the Champions Trophy. The BCCI took another week to name their squad, but with less than a month to go for the tournament, the host Pakistan remained the only team not to have announced their squad. All teams can make changes to their squad by February 11.

Pakistan is placed in Group A along with India, Bangladesh and New Zealand and will start their tournament against Mitchell Santner and Co. on February 19. There is no official word on the squad announcement from the PCB or the selectors yet. Saim Ayub’s fitness is still a big problem for the board.

The opener had a sensational start to his international career, amassing 515 runs in just 9 ODI matches. He also notched up two centuries in South Africa and is currently recovering from an ankle injury that has put serious doubt on his participation in the Champions Trophy. Ayub sustained the injury during the Test series against South Africa.

‘Pakistan kya darr gaya jo abhi tak team announce nahi ki?’: Basit Ali

Former cricketer Basit Ali on his YouTube Channel said that is Pakistan scared to announce the squad for the Champions Trophy. He further added that’s not the case, they are just unsure what to do and what not. He believes that the delay in squad announcement has a lot to do with Saim Ayub’s fitness update.

“Pakistan kya darr gaya jo abhi tak team announce nahi ki? Nahi dara nahi hai. Samajh nahi aa rahi hai — karein to kya karein? The biggest issue is Saim Ayub, whether he can return fit or not. It’s still not clear” Basit Ali said on his YouTube Channel. Basit also added that Pakistan’s main problem is their middle overs because they have to face 140 kmph pacers and No. 5, 6, and 7 appear dodgy.