LAHORE: Pakistan will finalise their Champions Trophy 2025 team only after the recovery of young batter Saim Ayub, sources told Geo News on Sunday, but an initial draft of the squad members will be sent to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Today is the last day to submit the initial squad for the upcoming event as per the prescribed procedure for ICC events, which obliges the participating countries to send names one month in advance.
However, changes can be made to the draft and sent to the ICC till February 11.
Sources further said that though Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had no intention to announce a preliminary squad but the board would send players names to the ICC to meet the procedure requirements.
It is pertinent to mention that the eight-team mega tournament, comprised of 15 matches, will run from February 19 to March 9, across three venues — Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi – in Pakistan and Dubai in UAE.
Ayub’s participation in the Champions Trophy is conditional to his fitness. The explosive left-handed opener limped off the field on January 3 after twisting his ankle while fielding during the second Test match against South Africa at the Newlands, Cape Town.
Meanwhile, the sources said, the Champions Trophy squad will almost be the same as the one that will play ODI tri-nation series prior to the mega ICC tournament. Whereas, there would not be much changes to the team, that played South Africa recently, for the tri-nation series. The series will be held from February 8 to 14 in Pakistan and played by New Zealand and South Africa apart from the hosts.
The sources said left-handed batsman Fakhar Zaman is most likely to get the opportunity to play the ODI series.
It should be noted that the Champions Trophy will be played by eight teams, divided into two groups. Group A features Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh, while Group B is comprised of Afghanistan, South Africa, England and Australia.
Hosts Pakistan will take on New Zealand in the curtain raiser on February 19 in Karachi, while the blockbuster clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India is scheduled for February 23 in Dubai.
Champions Trophy Schedule:
19 February, Pakistan v New Zealand, Karachi, Pakistan
20 February, Bangladesh v India, Dubai
21 February, Afghanistan v South Africa, Karachi, Pakistan
22 February, Australia v England, Lahore, Pakistan
23 February, Pakistan v India, Dubai
24 February, Bangladesh v New Zealand, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
25 February, Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
26 February, Afghanistan v England, Lahore, Pakistan
27 February, Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
28 February, Afghanistan v Australia, Lahore, Pakistan
1 March, South Africa v England, Karachi, Pakistan
2 March, New Zealand v India, Dubai
4 March, Semi-final 1, Dubai
5 March, Semi-final 2, Lahore, Pakistan
9 March, Final, Lahore (unless India qualify, when it will be played in Dubai)
10 March, Reserve day