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Babar Azam Set To Open With Fakhar Zaman In Champions Trophy 2025: Reports

Anurag Dasgupta

Babar to open alongside Fakhar Zaman [Source: @_FaridKhan/X.Com] Babar to open alongside Fakhar Zaman [Source: @_FaridKhan/X.Com]

Pakistan is the only team that hasn't announced their Champions Trophy 2025 squad, but rumours are already circulating on the potential inclusions in the team for the mega event. As per Samaa TV correspondent, Qadir Khawaja, Babar Azam is set to get a batting promotion and is likely to open alongside the returning Fakhar Zaman in the Champions Trophy.

The reports also mentioned that Saim Ayub, who is suffering from an ankle injury is set to be ruled out of the tournament and as a result, this batting change has been proposed. Babar has prior experience of opening in T20Is and recently opened Vs South Africa in the Test series. However, in ODIs, his best batting performance has come in at number 3 and 4.

With Babar opening alongside Fakhar, Kamran Ghulam is likely to bat at number 3 as Pakistan look for a formidable top 3 in the Champions Trophy. As per reports, Imam-ul-Haq and Shan Masood are the other stand-by for the opening slot.

No Abdullah Shafique? Khushdil Shah in?

Abdullah Shafique had a torrid 2024 in white-ball cricket and Pakistan selectors are likely to exclude him from the Champions Trophy squad. The team is looking to maximise the runs from their openers and Babar provides stability which Shafique doesn't.

Also, forgotten all-rounder, Khushdil Shah is likely to get a place in the Pakistan team for the mega event. The all-rounder provides explosiveness in the middle-order, something which the team currently lacks.

Apart from these changes, expect the core of the team to remain the same as Babar, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf set to remain in the team as the core group and will look to defend their Champions Trophy crown.