The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will announce the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy by February 3. Hosts Pakistan is the only team out of the eight that hasn’t named their squad. The reason has been the question marks of Saim Ayub’s fitness. Injuring himself against South Africa earlier in the month, it was reported that it would take nearly 6 weeks for the opener to recover.
Why Pakistan hasn’t named their ICC Champions Trophy squad
The PCB had sent him to London for further assessment and surgery. However, the doctors felt that Ayub only needed rehabilitation. By January 19, all the remaining teams had named their squads for the ICC Champions Trophy. Pakistan would have done the same had Ayub been fit.
A couple of days ago, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi revealed that cast on Ayub’s foot would be removed before the end of January. That means the board will be sure of his availability for the tournament, which kicks off on February 19 in Karachi.
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Date for Pakistan’s squad announcement for ICC Champions Trophy
According to Cricket Pakistan, in less than a week, Pakistan’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy will be out by February 3. By then PCB will get to everything about Saim Ayub’s injury status and recovery. They’ll announce the squads for the upcoming tri-series against South Africa and New Zealand, which starts on February 8, as well.
The squad will feature mainstays like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Salman Ali Agha. However, there is some speculation over who to pick as the third pacer. Haris Rauf and Abbas Afridi could be fighting for that spot.
Pakistan’s predicted squad for ICC Champions Trophy
Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Babar Azam, Saim Ayub (fitness permitting), Fakhar Zaman, Irfan Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Haseebullah Khan (wk) Aamer Jamal, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem
Traveling reserves: Mohammad Hasnain, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammed Wasim Jr.
