Hosts Pakistan are coming into the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 with a bag full of hope and expectations. The defending champions of this event are hosting an ICC event on their home soil after 29 years, having last joint-hosted the ICC ODI World Cup 1996.
Pakistan have a bag of expectations from their fans, who are finally treated to some quality international cricketing action. Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan hosted a tr-series involving New Zealand and South Africa and were the losing finalists.
New Zealand defeated Muhammad Rizwan and co. by 5 wickets in the tri-series finals and once again proved to everyone that they can carve their own niche in the subcontinent conditions.
In this article, we predict the strongest playing XI of Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025:
Openers: Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam
Pakistan have a solid opening combination in Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam. Zaman scored 135 runs in 3 matches and had a solid average of 45.00. Babar Azam had a quiet series but possesses the quality to excel in this tournament.
Their solid opening duo is expected to lay the foundation upfront for the other batters of Pakistan. Babar Azam is expected to don the anchor’s role and with his solid technique, Pakistan would be bidding for his long stay at the crease.
Top-Order: Saud Shakeel, Muhammad Rizwan and Salman Agha
Pakistan have been heavily relying on youngster Saud Shakeel for the all-important number 3 position. In 17 ODIs so far, he has mustered 340 runs and needs to back himself for having a good sojourn at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Skipper Muhammad Rizwan will play an important role at number 4 and needs to play as a link between the top-order and the middle-order. Salman Agha was in fantastic form in the tri-series and scored 219 runs, finishing as the highest run-scorer of Pakistan.
Middle-Order: Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah
The middle-order will feature Tayyab Tahir and Khushdil Shah. Both have the ability to hit some lusty blows at the fag end of the innings and will be key players to watch out for. Tayyab Tahir played a quickfire knock of 38 runs in 33 balls in the finals of the tri-series.
Khushdil Shah can contribute with the ball and can be a good bowling option as well for Pakistan.
Bowlers: Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed
Pakistan’s three-pronged pace attack in the form of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf is perhaps one of the best bowling attacks in the entire tournament. The trio have different roles for each other.
While Shaheen Afridi is responsible for bowling at the start of the innings, Haris takes up ownership in the middle overs. Naseem Shah is an excellent finisher with the ball. Abrar Ahmed is the solitary spinner in our predicted starting XI.
Pakistan Strongest Playing XI in ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saud Shakeel, Muhammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Naseem Shah
