LAHORE: Pakistan left-arm power hitter opening batsman Fakhar Zaman is likely to return to the national team for the ICC Champions Trophy.
He was dropped from the white-ball teams in October last year after a controversial social media post in which he criticised the selection committee for dropping former skipper Babar Azam from the Test team during the home Test series against England.
Later, the cricket board also excluded him from the central contracts. He remained part of the central contracts for eight consecutive years.
According to sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), alongside allrounder Shadab Khan, and opener Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman is likely to make it into the national squad for the ICC Champions Trophy.
As per the reports, Pakistan will go into the Champions Trophy with a single wicketkeeper skipper Muhammad Rizwan. At least four fast bowlers will be included in the eight-nation event.
Sources said that 3 spinners are also likely to be included in Pakistan’s squad for the Champions Trophy 2025.
In addition, 7 batters will be kept in the squad.
Pakistan is due to host the eight-nation event— the premier ODI competition after the World Cup —from February 19 to March 9.
Pakistan will host the mega event matches in its three major cities — Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi.
Last month, the International Cricket Council released the dates of the fixtures and groupings for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2024.
According to the top cricketing body, the mega tournament will be played in three venues across Pakistan and Dubai as a neutral venue.
India had refused to send its team to Pakistan for matches and demanded a neutral venue for it matches.
Pakistan agreed to hold India matches on a neutral venue under a fusion formula. As per this formula, both neibouring countries will not visit each other for ICC events during the next three years.
In the next three years, India is due to host three mega tournaments including the women’s ODI World Cup. India will also host the Asia Cup next year and will co-host the Twenty20 World Cup with Sri Lanka in 2026.
