The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to announce the national team squad for the Tri-Nation Series and Champions Trophy 2025, both of which will take place next month.
When Will PCB Announce the Squad?
Reports say that the PCB will announce the squad after the second Test match between Pakistan and the West Indies in Multan finishes. The selection process is complete after careful discussions with the national selectors.
Key Players Likely to Be Included
Some of the top players who are expected to be part of the squad include Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Salman Agha, Kamran Ghulam, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, and Abrar Ahmed. There is also a good chance that Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, and Saud Shakeel will be included in the squad for both the Tri-Nation Series and Champions Trophy.
Players to Watch for Selection
Although young talent Saim Ayub is likely to miss out due to an injury, there is a chance that Abbas Afridi and Aamir Jamal will make it to the final squad. However, players like Abdullah Shafique, Irfan Khan, Sufyan Muqeem, and Mohammad Hasnain may struggle to get a place in the squad due to the number of strong players already in the mix.
Tri-Nation Series: Teams and Schedule
The Tri-Nation Series will see Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa compete against each other. The series will begin on February 8 and run until February 14. The matches will be played on a single-league basis. Here’s the schedule:
- February 8: Pakistan vs New Zealand (d/n)
- February 10: New Zealand vs South Africa (d)
- February 12: Pakistan vs South Africa (d/n)
- February 14: Final (d/n)
Champions Trophy 2025: Tournament Details
The Champions Trophy 2025 will start on February 19 and continue until March 9. The tournament will take place across three venues in Pakistan—Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi—and also in Dubai. This tournament will feature 15 matches, making it a busy month for cricket. Here’s the full schedule:
- 19 February: Pakistan vs New Zealand, Karachi, Pakistan
- 20 February: Bangladesh vs India, Dubai
- 21 February: Afghanistan vs South Africa, Karachi, Pakistan
- 22 February: Australia vs England, Lahore, Pakistan
- 23 February: Pakistan vs India, Dubai
- 24 February: Bangladesh vs New Zealand, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
- 25 February: Australia vs South Africa, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
- 26 February: Afghanistan vs England, Lahore, Pakistan
- 27 February: Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
- 28 February: Afghanistan vs Australia, Lahore, Pakistan
- 1 March: South Africa vs England, Karachi, Pakistan
- 2 March: New Zealand vs India, Dubai
- 4 March: Semi-final 1, Dubai
- 5 March: Semi-final 2, Lahore, Pakistan
- 9 March: Final, Lahore (unless India qualify, in which case it will be played in Dubai)
- 10 March: Reserve day
All matches will be day-night encounters.