Babar Azam And...? 3 Key Players For Pakistan In Champions Trophy 2025

Soumyajit Dutta∙ Updated: Jan 7 2025, 1:40 PM

Babar Azam and Haris Rauf [Source: @TweetsbyAbrar/X.com]Babar Azam and Haris Rauf [Source: @TweetsbyAbrar/X.com]

The Champions Trophy 2025 is just around the corner and the teams and fans are gearing up for the opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand on February 19. While, there have been some questions about Pakistan's infrastructure and whether they can pull off hosting the event, the PCB showed confidence that they’ll deliver a grand experience.

While we can trust the host's hospitality, it’s crucial to remember that all the teams are getting ready for this prestigious tournament. With the top teams fielding strong squads, Pakistan is set to put its best foot forward with a powerful and reinforced lineup. The squad list will be out soon, but let’s take a peek at some key players who could really turn the tide for Pakistan in the upcoming clash.

3 Players Who Can Be Game Changers For Pakistan In Champions Trophy 2025

3) Saim Ayub

Yes, Saim Ayub has been suffering from an ankle injury sustained during the second Test against South Africa, yet his participation in the Champions Trophy can not be totally ruled out. 

The emerging star of Pakistan was a menace with the bat in the South Africa series and showed promise as an opener. Though he has played only 9 ODIs in his career, his strike rate of 105 and 3 centuries to his name speak for his potential. Pairing up with Babar Azam, Ayub can pose some serious threats to his opponents.

2) Haris Rauf

Haris Rauf has been in exceptional form recently, making him a potential game-changer for Pakistan. The pace bowler was named 'Player of the Series' in Pakistan's ODI series win over Australia, and his ability to fire raw pace makes him a valuable asset, especially on Pakistan's fast-friendly tracks. 

With 82 wickets in 45 ODIs at an impressive average of 25.76, Rauf has proven his ability to break partnerships and deliver crucial breakthroughs in high-pressure situations. His best bowling figures of 5/18 in ODIs highlight his threat as a pacer.

1) Babar Azam

Babar Azam's ODI heroics against South Africa and his resilience in the recent Test speaks much about the 30-year-old Pakistan veteran. For the unaware, he recorded figures of 23, 73 and 52 in the ODI series against the Proteas and racked up a solid 81 in the second Test.

Significantly, scoring 5,957 runs in 123 ODIs at an impressive average of 56.73, and a strike rate of 88.21, 'King' Babar has proven himself as one of the top batters in world cricket. With Pakistan hosting the event, exploiting his home soil will not be a tough task for Babar and can prove as one of the key players for Pakistan throughout the series.