Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan and Imam-ul-Haq expected to return for Champions Trophy

 Thursday, January 2, 2025

Lahore (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - Latest News - Online. 02 January 2025) Old players are expected to return to the Pakistani squad for the Champions Trophy. According to sources, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan and Imam-ul-Haq are expected to join the squad. Sources say that captain Muhammad Rizwan will be the only wicketkeeper in Pakistan's squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, while 4 fast bowlers will be included in this big event.

According to sources, 3 spinners are also likely to be included in Pakistan's squad for the Champions Trophy 2025. Among the fast bowlers, Muhammad Hasnain may be the fourth fast bowler along with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, while former vice-captain Shadab Khan is likely to return to the national team as the third spinner in the squad along with Abrar Ahmed and Sufyan Muqim.

In addition, 7 batsmen will be kept in the squad. Shadab Khan was dropped from the national team after the T20 World Cup to be played in the United States and the West Indies in June 2024. Shadab Khan was not selected in the Pakistan team for the tour of Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, however, the Cricket Board has included Shadab Khan in the “C” category of the central contract 2024-25.

After being dropped from the team, Shadab Khan played 5 matches for the Panthers in the Champions One Day Cup played at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, where he scored 120 runs and took 5 wickets in 192 balls, while in the Champions T20 Cup at the Pindi Stadium, Shadab Khan scored 24 runs in 6 matches and bowled only 18 balls. On the other hand, 29-year-old left-handed opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq has scored 3138 runs in 72 international One Day matches for Pakistan at an average of 48.27.

There is a strong possibility of his return to the national team in the Champions Trophy. Imam-ul-Haq played his last ODI against South Africa in the ICC World Cup on October 27, 2023. After being dropped from the team, Imam-ul-Haq scored 212 runs in 4 matches at an average of 53 in the Champions One Day Cup, while in the Champions T20 tournament, he scored 256 runs in 9 matches for the Lions at an average of 36.67. In addition, aggressive opener Fakhar Zaman is also expected to return to the Champions Trophy squad. The 34-year-old left-handed batsman, who has played 82 international ODIs for Pakistan, is subject to a central contract fitness by the Pakistan Cricket Board. Fakhar Zaman was not selected by the selectors for the tours of Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, after which Fakhar Zaman recently played for the Markhors in the Champions T20, scoring 303 runs in 10 matches at an average of 30.30 with the help of 2 half-centuries. It should be noted that the ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy, known as the Mini World Cup, will be played in Pakistan and the UAE from February 19 to March 9, 2025.