Following Pakistan's poor performance in the Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to rest captain Mohammad Rizwan and senior players as part of a team overhaul, according to media reports.
If Rizwan is given rest, Shadab Khan is being considered for captaincy. Additionally, sources suggest that 8 to 9 new players are likely to be included in the national squad.
Reports indicate that key players including Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, and Fakhar Zaman will be dropped from the squad. Alongside them, Imam-ul-Haq, Tayyab Tahir, and Kamran Ghulam are also expected to be left out.
Among the new inclusions, Mohammad Haris, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Arafat Minhas are set to join the team. Furthermore, Irfan Khan Niazi, Zaman Khan, Mohammad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, and Jahandad Khan may also get an opportunity. Other players in contention include Agha Salman, Abrar Ahmed, and Omair Bin Yousuf, while Hassan Nawaz, Ali Raza, and Abdul Samad are expected to be part of the new squad.
PCB chairman's meeting with selectors
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi held a meeting with the selectors at the National Cricket Academy, discussing Pakistan’s underwhelming Champions Trophy campaign. He has directed selectors to prepare the national team with a long-term vision to ensure a stronger future for Pakistan cricket.
