3 forgotten Pakistani players who might make surprise comebacks in Champions Trophy 2025
The marquee event of this year, ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is approaching quickly and Pakistan are busy finalizing preparations to compete as the hosts. They will be competing in a Tri-Series versus South Africa and New Zealand before the Champions Trophy and this bilateral event will act as a preparatory ground for the Mohammad Rizwan-led team.
They have momentum on their side as they will be entering the tournament on the back of historic series wins in South Africa and Australia and also a good performance in the Tri Series will definitely increase their confidence and morale.
Interestingly, the hosts are the only team who haven't unveiled their squad yet for the meha event of this year and questions about their unannounced squad have already started to raise and discussions have sparked.
With explosive opener Saim Ayub struggling with an ankle fracture, several news reports have claimed that the Pakistani selectors might consider bringing in the likes of Shan Masood back into the One-Day International setup. Apart from the Test Captain, the National Team selectors might also consider bringing in some forgotten players and let's take a look at three such forgotten players who might get a chance to make their comebacks into the team in the forthcoming Champions Trophy 2025.
Usama Mir
29-year-old spinner Usama Mir might find himself back in the squad for Champions Trophy 2025. With 15 scalps to his name in 12 One-Day Internationals, Usama has demonstrated his ability to outfox opposition batters with his unpredictable variations. While the duo of Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed have shown promise, their lack of experience in 50 over Cricket could lead the selectors to pick Usama Mir over the two above mentioned players. In List-A Cricket, the 29-year-old has dismissed 86 batters in 58 contests, which further strengthens his case.
Shadab Khan
Once considered as the backbone of Pakistan's spin bowling unit, Shadab Khan has been away from One-Day Cricket due to a prolonged rough patch with the ball. The leg spin bowling All-rounder, with 85 scalps and 855 runs to his name in 70 One-Day Internationals, still remains a valuable asset for the Green Shirts.
Keeping in mind the middle order struggles of the defending champions, Khan's ability to contribute with both ball & bat could help him in securing a spot in Pakistan's Champions Trophy 2025 squad. His experience and a knack of performing in high-pressure situations makes him a strong contender for making a comeback to the National Team.
Imam-ul-Haq
29-year-old Imam-ul-Haq, a reliable opening batter with a total of 3,138 One-Day International runs to his name at a good average of 48.27, last participated in an ODI match during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. With Saim Ayub missing out due to an ankle injury and Abdullah Shafique struggling for form with the bat, the Pakistani selectors might turn to Imam in order to provide stability to the top-order. His proven track-record in ODI's make him a perfect option for the forthcoming Champions Trophy 2025.
The selection committee of Pakistan's Men's National Cricket Team faces some tough decisions ahead of 2025 Champions Trophy. While the trio of Imam, Shadab and Usama may seem like surprising picks, their skill sets and experience could prove to be very crucial on home soil. Pakistani fans eagerly await the squad announcement of the National Team and they are hoping to see a balanced team capable of defending the Champions Trophy.
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