Aaqib Javed: “Faheem Ashraf has been included as an all-rounder, and if required, he will also be useful with the [ball]”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan head coach Aaqib Javed said he is glad to have all-rounder Faheem Ashraf in the team for the ongoing 2025 Champions Trophy as he will “be useful with the [ball]”.
Faheem had not played international cricket since December 2023 before making his comeback in the recent ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa.
During his time away from the national team, he was active in domestic cricket as in the Champions T20 Cup, he amassed 127 runs in seven matches for the Dolphins at an average of 18.14 and a strike-rate of 125.74.
He also took six wickets at an average of 27.16 and an economy rate of 7.76.
The 31-year-old was then involved in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and struck 102 runs in 11 games for Fortune Barishal, which included a top score of 54 not out, at an average of 34 and a strike-rate of 231.81.
He also ended the tournament as the joint second-highest wicket-taker with 20 wickets at an average of 13.90 and an economy rate of 7.12.
Given his recent form, Aaqib is confident that the Kasur native will replicate it at the international level.
“Faheem Ashraf has been included as an all-rounder, and if required, he will also be useful with the [ball],” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
In the ODI tri-series, Faheem played one match, in which he scored 22 runs and went wicketless.
Pakistan are now playing in the Champions Trophy, but Faheem was not part of the playing XI for the men in green’s opening game against New Zealand in Karachi, which they lost by 60 runs.
Pakistan’s next match will be against India on February 23 in Dubai.
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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