3 Pakistan Players Who Failed To Get A Spot In Champions Trophy Squad

Aashay Chopade

Saim Ayub's wicket (Source:@grassrootscric/X.com)Saim Ayub's wicket (Source:@grassrootscric/X.com)

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The Champions Trophy 2025 is all set to start in Pakistan from 19th of February, and after a long wait, the home team has finally announced the 15-member squad for the mega event. As always PCB has dished out plenty of surprises and there are some inclusions and exclusions that would be a matter of big debate.

Mohammad Rizwan is leading the side while Salman Ali Agha is the vice-captain of the side. The familiar names like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi are also part of the squad, but some consistent performers in the recent times have missed out. So, in this article, we will look at the three players who have not made the cut into the Pakistan's squad for Champions Trophy despite their quality and good recent record.

3. Aamer Jamal

Aamer Jamal was part of Pakistan's ODI squad on the Australian and Zimbabwe tour and has been preferred as a seam-bowling all-rounder over Faheem Ashraf in recent times. He has played only three ODIs where he has taken three wickets, but has performed well in Test cricket where he has delivered in difficult conditions in Australia.

Aamer Jamal has 56 wickets in 34 List A matches and has been in the scheme of things over Faheem Ashraf from the last year or so. Thus, missing out from the ICC tournament squad for a player who last played for country more than a year ago would be a surprise and Jamal must be feeling unlucky after the announcement.

2. Sufiyan Muqeem

Sufiyan Muqeem is another deserving player who has missed out from the squad despite doing well in the only ODI he has played so far. He picked four wickets on his debut against South Africa recently and has been brilliant in T20Is as well with 16 wickets in nine matches.

He has proved himself as a genuine wicket-taker so far, so his ability to pick wickets in middle overs would have been crucial on flat decks in Pakistan. However, Pakistan have preferred to go with safer options rather than an aggressive spinner who has 14 wickets in seven List A matches so far.

1. Saim Ayub

The left-handed opening batter was the star for Pakistan in the ODI series against South Africa. He hit two centuries in that series, and in the nine ODIs, he has 511 runs at an average of 64.37 with a strike-rate of 105.53. Ayub has three centuries and one fifty to his name, but the ankle injury on the tour of South Africa hampered his progress and it has ruled him out of the Champions Trophy.

Pakistan have now included Fakhar Zaman into the line-up and there is still mystery over their second opener for the marquee tournament. So, Saim Ayub is the most deserving Pakistan player who has missed out on the Champions Trophy squad due to injury.