Pakistan’s cricket fans have reason to celebrate as star batter Fakhar Zaman makes his much-anticipated return to the national squad. After an absence due to a dispute with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Fakhar is back just in time for the ICC Champions Trophy. Fakhar Zaman’s absence was largely due to a fallout with the PCB over a controversial social media post. However, with the Champions Trophy looming, his return adds a major boost to Pakistan’s top order. His aggressive style and ability to dominate bowlers make him an asset in limited-overs cricket.
Squad Selection Strategy
The PCB has followed a “horses for courses” strategy while selecting the squad. Alongside Fakhar, all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has made a surprise comeback. Khushdil Shah and Saud Shakeel have also been included, bolstering the team’s middle order.
Saim Ayub’s unfortunate ankle fracture sustained in Cape Town has ruled him out of the tournament. Initially, it was believed he would recover in six weeks, but PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that his return is at least four weeks away. This means Pakistan loses one of its most in-form ODI batters.
Abdullah Shafique’s recent form has been concerning. He made unwanted history by becoming the first player to record a duck in every match of a completed ODI series. Consequently, he has been left out of the squad.
New Opening Pairing Strategies
With Fakhar back in the squad, Pakistan will need to decide on his opening partner. Babar Azam, given his success in Test cricket, is one option. Alternatively, Saud Shakeel could step up, depending on conditions and opposition.
A statement from Asad Shafiq, member of the selection panel, said, “Fakhar’s opening partner could be either Babar Azam or Saud Shakeel, depending on various factors such as conditions, opposition and match strategy. Both players are highly capable at the top of the order, with Babar being particularly seasoned in the role, regularly opening in T20Is and also excelling in the Cape Town Test by scoring two half-centuries in Saim Ayub’s absence.”
Pakistan’s Pace-Dominant Attack
Pakistan has maintained its successful pace-heavy approach, including Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Hasnain in the squad, with only one specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed, indicating a strong reliance on fast bowlers.
Despite an impressive ODI debut, Sufiyan Muqeem is not in the squad, and former Champions Cup-winning captain Shadab Khan, as well as potential middle-order star Irfan Khan, have also been overlooked. Despite limited 50-over cricket in recent months, Faheem’s performances in domestic cricket have earned him a recall.
Shafiq further stated, “One of the standout qualities of this side is its flexibility – an essential trait in today’s modern-day cricket. We are confident that this squad strikes the right balance between youth and experience, and has all bases covered. Each player has been chosen with a clear role in mind, ensuring the captain has versatile options at his disposal.”
Pakistan’s Champions Trophy Schedule
Pakistan’s campaign kicks off with three crucial matches:
February 19: vs. New Zealand (Karachi)
February 23: vs. India (Dubai)
February 27: vs. Bangladesh (Rawalpindi)
Pakistan’s Champions Trophy squad: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Rizwan (capt.&wk), Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
