Pakistan, the official host of the Champions Trophy 2025, is the only team among the eight participants—India, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan—that has not yet disclosed its squad for this prestigious ODI tournament. The International Cricket Council (ICC) set an initial deadline of January 12 for teams to announce a provisional squad, which is five weeks prior to the tournament's commencement. While some teams, such as India, took an additional week to finalize their selections, Pakistan remains the sole team yet to reveal its squad with less than a month remaining until the tournament's opening match. It is important to note that all teams have the opportunity to make adjustments to their squads until February 11, allowing Pakistan some leeway in finalizing their roster.

The reason for this delay remains unclear, as there has been no official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) or the selectors. However, former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali suggests that the uncertainty surrounding Saim Ayub's fitness may be a significant factor.

"Is Pakistan hesitant to announce their team? No, they are not scared; they are simply uncertain about their next steps," Basit remarked in a video on his YouTube channel.

"The primary concern is Saim Ayub's fitness and whether he will be able to recover in time. This situation remains ambiguous."

Ayub has made an impressive start to his international career, amassing 515 runs in just nine ODIs, including two centuries in South Africa. However, he is currently dealing with an ankle injury sustained during the Test series against South Africa, casting doubt on his participation in the Champions Trophy.

Basit pointed out that Pakistan's struggling middle-order is a reason for their cautious approach, as they aim to ensure their top-order is fully operational. Without Ayub at the top, this goal appears challenging.

"I hope I am mistaken, but Pakistan's issue lies within their middle-order, especially when facing fast bowlers who can bowl at 140 km/h, except against India, where they encounter spin all-rounders," Basit noted. Currently, the positions of No. 5, 6, and 7 in Pakistan's lineup seem precarious.

What happens if Saim Ayub is not fit?

Should Ayub be unavailable, selectors have reportedly pinpointed a potential replacement. The out-of-form opener Abdullah Shafique and Usman Khan are unlikely to be part of the squad, while Fakhar Zaman has confirmed his position.

The inclusion of Imam-ul-Haq and the promising Haseebullah is still being evaluated. The team is anticipated to comprise established players such as Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, and Irfan Khan.

On the bowling front, Pakistan will maintain its reliance on a formidable pace attack, featuring Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Hasnain. Additional support will come from Kamran Ghulam, leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, and young spinner Sufiyan Muqeem.

"The players Tayyab Tahir, Saud, and Kamran Ghulam have not participated in ICC events. Likewise, spinners Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed lack experience in such tournaments," remarked the former batter.

"This underscores the necessity of Shadab Khan as a spin all-rounder at this juncture. If Saim is fit, then he and Fakhar Zaman would form the optimal opening partnership. Should Saim be unavailable, Shan Masood would step in. After that, the batting lineup will rely heavily on Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, making these four players crucial for our batting strategy, while the bowling will hinge on the pace attack," he concluded.

Pakistan will commence their campaign in the tournament with a match against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi. The other teams in Group A include India and Bangladesh.

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