Pakistan gamers get right into a huddle whereas attempting to defend 241 towards India throughout high-stakes conflict of ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Dubai on February 23, 2025. — AFPBabar Azam, Shaheen Afridi amongst gamers anticipated to be dropped.Captain Mohammad Rizwan prone to be rested as a part of overhaul.Mohammad Haris, Sufiyan Muqeem and others to be a part of workforce.
The adjustments come as a part of PCB’s technique to rebuild with a deal with long-term success with sources saying that captain Mohammad Rizwan will probably be rested as a part of this overhaul and all-rounder Shadab Khan is reportedly being thought of to take over the captaincy position.
The event comes towards the backdrop of Males in Inexperienced’s — who had been additionally the defending champions — below-par efficiency within the first ICC occasion hosted by the nation in almost three a long time.
Throughout the match, the Rizwan-led aspect didn’t win a single match and misplaced two fixtures towards New Zealand and arch-rivals India. In the meantime, their match towards Bangladesh was washed out as a consequence of rain.
Additionally, Saqlain Mushtaq is predicted to take over because the nationwide cricket workforce’s head coach with sources saying that the previous cricketer has agreed to the position after a gathering with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
In the meantime, a number of cricketers are anticipated to be dropped from the squad, together with Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Tayyab Tahir and Kamran Ghulam.
The gamers prone to be a part of the workforce embrace Mohammad Haris, Sufiyan Muqeem, Arafat Minhas, Irfan Khan Niazi, Zaman Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan.
It’s pertinent to know that Naqvi had not too long ago convened a gathering with selectors on the Nationwide Cricket Academy to debate the workforce’s poor Champions Trophy marketing campaign.
Throughout this assembly, Naqvi emphasised the necessity for a long-term imaginative and prescient, instructing selectors to construct a workforce that may maintain success over time fairly than specializing in short-term outcomes.
The PCB is predicted to make an official announcement relating to the brand new workforce composition within the coming days, forward of Pakistan’s subsequent worldwide task.
Earlier, stories had emerged that a number of senior gamers are considering taking a break from worldwide cricket following their underwhelming performances within the Champions Trophy.
Key gamers akin to Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Babar Azam had been reportedly being mentioned in choice conferences, with some contemplating stepping again from the tour to keep away from the danger of being dropped.
