After a long wait, the Pakistan Cricket Board has finally announced its team for the Champions Trophy 2025. The PCB selection committee has announced a 15 -member squad under the captaincy of Mohammad Rizwan, in which some players have returned after a long time. Aga Salman has been made the vice-captain of the team, while the explosive opener Fakhar Zaman, who was in controversy over a tweet, has also returned to the team.

Except Pakistan hosting the Champions Trophy, the remaining 7 teams of the tournament had already announced the squad. Only everyone was waiting for the Pakistani team and this wait also ended on Friday 31 January. The Pakistani board announced the team in 2017 through a special video from the players who won the title.

ICC champions trophy 2⃣0⃣1⃣7⃣ Winners Announce Squad for the 2⃣0⃣5⃣5⃣ Event

How will you show your support for the Pakistan team#Championstrophy , #Wehavewwewill pic.twitter.com/zdypfuqzbu

- Pakistan Cricket (@Terealpcb) January 31, 2025

Fakhar's return to disputed post

The responsibility of batting of the Pakistani team will be on the shoulders of Babar Azam, Captain Rizwan, Kamran Ghulam and Fakhar, who was the hero of the last Champions Trophy final. Fakhar's return is the most special in this because last year he tweeted a tweet in support of Babar Azam after being removed from the captaincy. The PCB did not like this post and the notice was sent to them. Since then, Fakhar had not been able to play in any format. But Fakhar has returned due to size Ayub's injury.

Apart from these, all -rounders Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah have returned. While Faheem has returned to the ODI team for the first time after September 2023, Khushdil is returning to this team after August 2022. Apart from him, Usman Khan has also been included in the team, while his recent performance was nothing special.

Pakistan in India's group

The Pakistani team is in the group of India in the Champions Trophy, besides these two, New Zealand and Bangladesh. The tournament will begin with the first match between Pakistan and New Zealand on February 19. After this, the Pakistani team will face Team India. The match will be played at Dubai International Stadium on 23 February.

Pakistan's squad

Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Aga Salman, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasanain, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.