Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has emphasized the need to back the national squad in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, while also addressing the absence of young batting sensation Saim Ayub.
For the unversed, Saim suffered a right ankle fracture while fielding on the first day of the second Test between Pakistan and South Africa in early January. The injury ruled him out for 10 weeks, forcing him to miss the Champions Trophy 2025.
Shahid Afridi, while speaking to the media on Tuesday, acknowledged that Saim’s injury is a setback but urged everyone to move forward and back the current squad.
“Yes, Saim Ayub’s absence will be felt, but now it’s time to forget that and support the entire squad,” Afridi stated.
“There’s no point in repeatedly mentioning Saim Ayub now. We need to focus on the players who are part of the squad and back them wholeheartedly.”
Shahid Afridi, known for his straightforward views, admitted that he had reservations about the inclusion of one or two players in the Champions Trophy squad but refrained from naming them.
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“I do have some objections to a couple of selections, but I won’t take names. What’s more important now is to support the team,” he said.
Afridi also commented on the much-anticipated clash with India, expressing his disappointment over India’s decision not to play in Pakistan.
“India should have come to Pakistan and played here. But since they will play in Dubai, Pakistan’s focus should be on beating them, wherever the match is,” Afridi remarked.
For the unversed, the defending champions and hosts Pakistan will begin their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a game against New Zealand on February 19.
They will then travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the much-awaited clash against arch-rivals India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23. Pakistan will then return home to face Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27.
Pakistan squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.