The ICC Champions Trophy is poised for its return after an eight-year hiatus. The previous edition saw Pakistan claim their inaugural title by defeating India in the final at The Oval. However, the landscape for Pakistan has shifted significantly since that victory. Currently, Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam are the only players remaining from the squad that participated eight years ago.

Fakhar, who made his comeback in October following a dispute with the PCB, has demonstrated remarkable form and is expected to play a pivotal role at the top of the batting order, especially in light of Saim Ayub's absence. Pakistan faced a substantial setback as the in-form opener, who was instrumental in the team's ODI series triumph in late December, has been sidelined due to injury. This situation has led selectors to consider Babar as an opener for the Champions Trophy, creating uncertainty regarding the top-order composition.

In the middle order, the team will rely on captain Mohammad Rizwan, who recently scored an unbeaten 122 against South Africa at home. He will be joined by another consistent performer, Salman Ali Agha, with whom he formed a record partnership in that match. A critical challenge for Pakistan's batters will be determining when and how to accelerate their scoring, particularly within the middle order.

A more pressing issue for the team lies within its bowling attack, which struggled to make an impact during the recent tri-series on home soil. The fast bowlers, spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi, managed to take only 10 wickets at an average of 49.10. Additionally, Pakistan lacks a dedicated spin option, with Abrar Ahmed being their sole specialist, alongside part-time contributions from Khushdil Shah and Salman.

Recent form:

Following their failure to qualify for the semifinals in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Pakistan has demonstrated resilience in the format, achieving victory in eight out of twelve matches. Noteworthy accomplishments include a 2-1 series win against Australia and a 2-0 clean sweep over South Africa, both achieved on foreign soil. These successes reflect the team's capabilities and should foster hope among supporters. Nevertheless, their recent participation in a tri-series at home resulted in two losses out of three matches, both against New Zealand, underscoring the necessity for greater consistency.

Pakistan's Champions Trophy group schedule:

vs New Zealand, February 19, Karachi

vs India, February 23, Dubai

vs Bangladesh, February 27, Rawalpindi

Pakistan's best XI:

Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (C & wk), Salman Ali Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.

Pakistan's Complete 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.

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