Former Pakistan captain and bowling great Wasim Akram opened up on the selection of the national squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, expressing grievance over the selection of Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah.
Pakistan announced their squad for the tri-nation series and the upcoming eight-team tournament on January 31.
While talking on the sidelines of the International League T20 (ILT20), Wasim Akram did not seem pleased with the selection of Faheem and Khushdil.
“I haven’t thought about the team announcement yet. But a couple of things that I have thought about. For instance, Faheem Ashraf is in the team. I wish him all the best.
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“He is a talented cricketer. But in the last 20 matches, his bowling average is 100 and he averages nine with the bat. He came out of the blue and Khushdil also came out of the blue,” the Sultan of Swing said.
Wasim Akram also shed light on Pakistan’s decision to select only one specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed, for the much anticipated mega event.
“We are taking one spinner, a proper spinner especially knowing the conditions here in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). I think India has three to four spinners in their squad.
“There is a reason behind that they have selected this. Anyway, the team has been selected. I wish the Pakistan team all the best,” he remarked.
The former captain expressed his delight over the return of Fakhar Zaman, while suggesting who should open with Fakhar in the absence of injured Saim Ayub.
“And now there will be a problem of opening as well. Fakhar Zaman has been picked, thank God he is back in the squad. He is one of the main players in world cricket in white ball,” he added.
“I would like to see Mohammad Rizwan as a middle-order batter in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, while I will be backing Babar Azam as an opener.
“His technique is great, If Babar plays 50 overs, he will score 100 or more than that, and with that, the entire team’s batting will score around him. This is my thought.”
Pakistan Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Mohammad Rizwan (wk)(c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Saud Shakeel, Naseem Shah, Tayyab Tahir, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Kamran Ghulam, Muhammad Hasnain, Usman Khan, Haris Rauf.
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