Pakistan have named their 15-player squad for the upcoming ICC Men's Champions Trophy and it includes three players who found their feet in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League.

 The proud cricketing nation won the most recent Champions Trophy event in 2017, the last time the tournament was played. On this occasion, Pakistan are hosting this 2025 edition, along with the UAE.

Opener Usman Khan (Chittagong Kings), all-rounders Khushdil Shah (Rangpur Riders) and Faheem Ashraf (Fortune Barishal) have performed for their respective sides and have helped to take them to the knockout phase of the tournament. 

Usman smashed two half-centuries and a ton as he smashed 285 runs at a strike-rate of 167.64 from eight matches. Khushdil, who played two more, smashed 298 runs at a strike-rate of 175.29, featuring two half-centuries. To put more gloss on his impeccable display, he scalped 17 wickets at an economy of 6.03.  Faheem, meanwhile, picked up 20 wickets at an economy of 7.12 – the second highest wicket-taker in the tournament so far – and scored 102 runs at a strike-rate of 231.81 from 11 matches.

Mohammad Rizwan will lead the team, having done so since Babar Azam stepped down from the role after the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in 2023. This is the first 50-over ICC tournament since then.

Rising star hitter Saim Ayub is a notable absentee, having sustained an ankle injury in Pakistan's New Year's Test in Cape Town, South Africa.

"We understand how much he was looking forward to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and recognise how devastating it must be for him to miss a global event, especially when he is in such exceptional batting form," Asad Shafiq, a member of the National Selection Committee explained.

"However, as a valuable asset to our team, we are committed to prioritising his long-term health over making any rushed decisions."

Top-order batter Abdullah Shafique has also missed the cut, paving the way for Babar to secure one of the top-order roles.

Veteran Fakhar Zaman is in the mix, having played a monumental role in the 2017 Champions Trophy final. He scored a maiden ODI ton (114 off 106 deliveries) at The Oval, London, as Pakistan beat India by 180 runs to claim the silverware. Also recalled are Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, and Saud Shakeel.

"Fakhar's opening partner could be either Babar Azam or Saud Shakeel, depending on various factors such as conditions, opposition and match strategy," Shafiq said.

"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."

The same squad will feature in the tri-series against South Africa and New Zealand in the leadup to the Champions Trophy.

Aaqib Javed will continue his role as Interim Coach, stepping in after Gary Kirsten's departure last October.

Pakistan squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, 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.