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3 Reasons Why Fakhar Zaman Should Be Included In Pakistan's Champions Trophy Squad

Anurag Dasgupta

Why Fakhar Zaman should be in Pakistan's CT squad [Source: @grassrootscric/X.Com] Why Fakhar Zaman should be in Pakistan's CT squad [Source: @grassrootscric/X.Com]

Pakistan have announced their preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 and the selectors have made the right call by including Fakhar Zaman in the team. The southpaw had a beef with PCB Chief, Mohsin Naqvi and was omitted from the recent white-ball tours of Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

After his teammate, Babar Azam, was axed from the Test team for the England series, Fakhar took a dig at PCB and came out in support of Babar. This didn't go well with Mohsin Naqvi who omitted the batter from the team.

However, he is back in the side and with the final squad yet to be announced, there is still hope that the explosive batter will be included in the 15-member squad. Here are 3 reasons why Fakhar should be there in the Champions Trophy squad.

3) He is Pakistan's biggest match-winner

Not Babar Azam, not Mohammad Rizwan, but Fakhar Zaman is Pakistan's biggest match-winner in ODIs. Time and again, he has proven his worth in the 50-over format and has scored truckloads of runs in big matches.

Who can forget his heroics in the Champions Trophy finale Vs India? He single-handedly destroyed their bowling attack and won the tournament for his side. In the 2023 World Cup match Vs New Zealand, Pakistan needed 402 runs to win, and Fakhar once again came out all guns blazing and smashed 126 off 81 balls as the revised target due to DLS was chased down easily.

Pakistan needs such mentality in the team and for that, the management should include him in the side.

2) His ODI record is impeccable!

82 matches, 3492 runs, at a strike-rate of 93 and 11 hundreds included. Fakhar's ODI numbers are impeccable as for the last 8 years, he has consistently delivered the goods for his side in this format.

Babar certainly has a better average and more runs, but Fakhar's runs are more impactful and is certainly a game-changer on his day. In ODIs, he always delivers under pressure and could be the X-factor once again in this edition.

1) Needs someone to play an attacking game

With Saim Ayub likely to be ruled out of the Champions Trophy due to an ankle injury, Pakistan need an attacking opener to take down the attack in the first 10 overs.

Even if Ayub is fit, Pakistan should play both the aggressive openers, so that the middle-order gets some cushioning. He has the ability to take on any attack in the world and the wickets in Pakistan will suit his style of play.