Mohammad Rizwan: “Khushdil has been in exceptional form, and his performances in these tournaments should speak for themselves. I don’t think his selection should be questioned”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan limited overs captain Mohammad Rizwan doesn’t think big-hitting all-rounder Khushdil Shah’s selection for the 2025 Champions Trophy “should be questioned”.
He noted that Khushdil “has been in exceptional form” and earned his recall back into the national team.
The 30-year-old has done very well in domestic cricket as he accumulated 132 runs in eight matches for the Lions during the Champions T20 Cup, which included a top score of 57 not out, at an average of 26.40 and a strike-rate of 151.72.
He also took nine wickets at an average of 17.22 and an economy rate of 6.45.
The Bannu native was then involved in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and struck 298 runs in 10 matches for the Rangpur Riders, which included two fifties, at an average of 59.60 and a strike-rate of 175.29.
Bowling-wise, Khushdil was the joint third-highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets at an average of 9.94 and an economy rate of 6.03.
He subsequently made his international comeback in the ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, where Pakistan lost to the Black Caps in the final.
In the three matches he played, Khushdil mustered 22 runs at an average of 11 and claimed one wicket at an average of 127.
“Khushdil has been in exceptional form, and his performances in these tournaments should speak for themselves. I don’t think his selection should be questioned,” Rizwan was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
The Champions Trophy will be held 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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