Asad Shafiq: “Fakhar’s opening partner could be either Babar Azam or Saud Shakeel, depending on various factors such as conditions, opposition and match strategy”

Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani

Pakistan selector Asad Shafiq has confirmed that Babar Azam or Saud Shakeel could open the batting with Fakhar Zaman in the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Shafiq’s comments come that Zaman will be one of Pakistan’s go-to openers in the tournament.

It also signals a promotion up the order for Azam, who usually bats at number three, or Shakeel, who tends to play in the middle order.

The need for a new opening batsman stems from Saim Ayub’s ankle injury, which occurred during the recent two-Test series against South Africa.

In the ODI series against the Proteas, Azam scored 148 runs, which included two fifties, at an average of 49.33.

Shakeel, on the other hand, hasn’t played ODI cricket since the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup.

“Fakhar’s opening partner could be either Babar Azam or Saud Shakeel, depending on various factors such as conditions, opposition and match strategy. Both players are highly capable at the top of the order, with Babar being particularly seasoned in the role, regularly opening in T20Is and also excelling in the Cape Town Test by scoring two half-centuries in Saim Ayub’s absence,” Shafiq was quoted as saying in a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) press release.

Azam, Shakeel and Zaman have all been picked in Pakistan’s squad for the ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa.

After this, they will be involved in the Champions Trophy, which will take place from February 19 to March 9.

Pakistan Squad for 2025 Champions Trophy: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah

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