Pakistan playing 11 for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 confirmed by Ex-India star, no Babar Azam as opener

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has picked his playing XI for the Pakistan National Cricket Team for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. What was the major talking point of his team was he didn't pick Babar Azam as an opener for the team. 

Babar Azam has been asked by the team management to open the innings in the ODIs ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The premier batter opened for the team in the tri-series against South Africa and New Zealand but didn't have a great outing. 

Babar Azam failed to score big in all three games, and this raised a lot of concerns over his new role. The Pakistan coach, however, mentioned that they want Babar to open the innings as the wickets in Pakistan have nothing to offer, and the best batters should maximise as many balls as possible. 

Aakash Chopra picked Babar Azam at No.3 in his innings. According to him, Fakhar Zaman will be opening the innings alongside Saud Shakeel. He feels that the latter will have to do a great job for the team in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 

Aakash Chopra went on to pick skipper Mohammad Rizwan at No.4, followed by Salman Agha at No.5. The duo were the main reasons why the Pakistan National Cricket Team reached the final of the tri-series. They both slammed terrific centuries in the game against South Africa. 

According to Aakash Chopra, both Khushdil Shah and Faheem Ashraf will be there in the playing XI of the Pakistan National Cricket Team. The PCB was criticised a lot for the selection of the duo, and they didn't do anything good either in the tri-series. 

The Pakistan National Cricket Team pace battery for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will see a pace trio of Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, as per Aakash Chopra. He also picked Abrar Ahmed as the lone spinner in the team. 

Pakistan playing 11 for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 picked by Aakash Chopra

Here's Pakistan playing 11 for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 picked by Aakash Chopra 

Fakhar Zaman, Saud Shakeel, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed