Following Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is initiating a team overhaul by resting captain Mohammad Rizwan along with several senior players, according to media reports.
If Rizwan is given rest, Shadab Khan is being considered to take over as captain. In addition, sources suggest that 8 to 9 new players will be added to the national squad. Key players such as Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, and Fakhar Zaman are reportedly set to be dropped, along with Imam-ul-Haq, Tayyab Tahir, and Kamran Ghulam.
Read More: Pakistan Eliminated From FIH 5s Hockey World Cup
New prospects expected to join the team include Mohammad Haris, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Arafat Minhas, while Irfan Khan Niazi, Zaman Khan, Mohammad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, and Jahandad Khan might also earn opportunities. Other players in contention include Agha Salman, Abrar Ahmed, and Omair Bin Yousuf, and Hassan Nawaz, Ali Raza, and Abdul Samad are expected to be part of the revamped squad.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi convened a meeting with selectors at the National Cricket Academy to discuss the underwhelming Champions Trophy campaign. He directed the selectors to build the national team with a long-term vision to secure a stronger future for Pakistan cricket.
