Latest news with #PakistanShaheens
Express Tribune
21-02-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Imam replaces Fakhar in Pakistan's CT squad
Pakistan's Champions Trophy 2025 campaign has suffered a significant setback as opener Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury. In his place, Imam-ul-Haq has been drafted into the squad for the remainder of the matches. Fakhar sustained the injury while fielding during Pakistan's match against New Zealand in Karachi. Zaman suffered a muscular injury while chasing a ball towards the boundary. He cut it off before palming it over to Babar Azam to throw it back to the keeper, but immediately appeared to feel discomfort and walked off the field. He walked backed to dug out with the physio, though unaided. He eventually returned to the field later in the game. The southpaw came out to bat at Mohammad Rizwan's position, as he was not eligible to open for Pakistan for not spending required time on the field during New Zealand innings. During his batting, he again felt discomfort and was checked by a physio. He was not able to run between the wicket properly. Eventually, he was bowled by Bracewell after scoring 24 off 42 deliveries. The left-handed batter took to his social media handles to announce his departure from the rest of the tournament. "Representing Pakistan on the biggest stage is an honour and dream of every cricketer in this country," he wrote on Instagram. "I have been privileged enough to represent Pakistan multiple times with pride. Unfortunately I'm now out of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 but surely Allah is the best planner. Grateful for the opportunity. I will be backing our boys in green from home. This is only just the beginning, the comeback will be stronger than the setback. Pakistan Zindabad." The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 has approved Imam-ul-Haq as a replacement for Fakhar Zaman in Pakistan's squad. A player's replacement requires approval from the Event Technical Committee before being officially added to the squad. Imam was already part of the Pakistan Shaheens squad and recently impressed in a warm-up match against South Africa, scoring 98 runs. Meanwhile, in the tournament opener, defending champions Pakistan suffered a 60-run defeat against New Zealand. Pakistan will now face arch-rivals India in their next fixture, a must-win encounter to keep their title defense hopes alive. Pakistan's updated squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Express Tribune
17-02-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Chopra highlights Pakistan's weakness
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has highlighted Pakistan's struggles under pressure as a key weakness ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to begin next week. While speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra provided a candid analysis of Pakistan's mental vulnerabilities in high-stakes situations. "Pakistan's weakness is not a recent issue; it's a perennial problem. Of course, they are the defending champions in the Champions Trophy, but the truth is that they struggle under pressure. They lost to the USA in the last ICC event (the 2024 T20 World Cup) and failed to qualify for the second round," said Chopra. The cricketer-turned-commentator further emphasised Pakistan's unpredictability as a major drawback heading into the tournament. "They are inconsistent. Their graph fluctuates. They rarely maintain stability. In a way, they reflect their countryups and downs. The same inconsistency is seen in their cricket team," he stated. Pakistan's volatility has long been a double-edged sword. While they have pulled off stunning victories, they have also suffered shocking defeats. Chopra believes this inconsistency adds to their challenges. "They are volatile and unpredictablePakistan's middle name is unpredictability. Imploding under pressure and inconsistency are major concerns. Can Pakistan overcome these issues? That remains the question, especially since they will be under immense pressure," he said. Despite being the defending champions from the 2017 edition, Pakistan struggled in recent ICC events, failing to progress beyond the group stage in both the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to commence in Karachi on February 19, with defending champions Pakistan facing New Zealand in the tournament opener. As part of their preparations, Pakistan Shaheens played a crucial warm-up match against Afghanistan, posting a formidable 314/8 and securing a dominant 144-run victory. Skipper Shadab Khan led from the front with an impressive bowling performance, taking three wickets as Afghanistan was dismissed for 170. The Shaheens will next face South Africa at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on February 17, while another squad will take on Bangladesh on the same day at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Pakistan Squad for Champions Trophy 2025: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Int'l Cricket Council
12-02-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Squad and schedule for Champions Trophy warm-up matches announced
The warm-up fixtures will take place between 14-17 February in the lead-up to the main tournament, which runs from 19 February - 9 March. Afghanistan, South Africa, and Bangladesh will feature in these three games on 14 and 17 February respectively, while Afghanistan will also play a warm-up fixture against New Zealand on 16 February. These will be the final round of preparations for the side ahead of the Champions Trophy. South Africa and New Zealand are already in Pakistan featuring in a tri-series with the hosts. Class of 2017 announces the Pakistan squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 PCB has named three separate Pakistan Shaheens squads for the fixtures. On 14 February, Shadab Khan will lead the Shaheens against Afghanistan in Lahore. On 17 February, two Shaheens teams will be in action in Karachi and Dubai. Mohammad Hurraira will lead the Shaheens against South Africa in Karachi, while Mohammad Haris will lead the Shaheens against Bangladesh in Dubai. The New Zealand-Afghanistan warm-up match on 16th February will be played out in Karachi. Schedule of matches: 14 February – Pakistan Shaheens v Afghanistan, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 16 February – New Zealand v Afghanistan, National Stadium, Karachi 17 February – Pakistan Shaheens v South Africa, National Stadium, Karachi 17 February – Pakistan Shaheens v Bangladesh, ICC Cricket Academy, Dubai *All games will be day-night fixtures Champions Trophy squads: Afghanistan squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran. Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Bilal Sami Bangladesh squad: Nazmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, MD Mahmud Ullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossai Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana. South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Corbin Bosch. Travelling reserve: Kwena Maphaka New Zealand squad: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young. Shaheens squads: v Afghanistan, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore - Shadab Khan (captain), Abdul Faseeh, Arafat Minhas, Hussain Talat, Jahandad Khan, Kashif Ali, Mohsin Riaz, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir Khan, Muhammad Akhlaq, Muhammad Imran Randhawa and Muhammad Irfan Khan v South Africa, National Stadium, Karachi - Mohammad Huraira (captain), Amad Butt, Faisal Akram, Hassan Nawaz, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Maaz Sadaqat, Mehran Mumtaz, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Niaz Khan, Qasim Akram, and Saad Khan v Bangladesh, ICC Academy, Dubai - Mohammad Haris (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdul Samad, Ali Raza, Azan Awais, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mubasir Khan, Musa Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufiyan Moqim and Usama Mir ICC Champions Trophy, 2025 News Men's News Afghanistan Bangladesh South Africa New Zealand Pakistan
