Sport
Champions Trophy 2017: Pakistan preview, squad, form, history and who to watch
The team is a mix of youth and experience, with Sarfraz Ahmed set for first ICC event as captain.
Pakistan will enter the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy in pursuit of their maiden Champions Trophy title, having edged the West Indies for a place in the eight-team tournament. Sarfraz Ahmed, who recently took charge of the One-Day International side, has a young side at his disposal, but with the likes of India, South Africa and Sri Lanka in the same pool, Pakistan will have a very small margin of error in the competition.
Haris Sohail was a late addition to the squad, coming in for Umar Akmal, with Inzamam-ul-Haq, the chief national selector, saying he was impressed by Sohail’s domestic feats.
The return of Azhar Ali, the former captain of the side, should also boost Pakistan given his impressive track record in England across all formats.
Imad Wasim, the left-arm spinner, and Shadab Khan, the legspinner, will spearhead the spin attack, with Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik also around to chip in if needed.
The team also includes uncapped players Fahim Ashraf, the right-arm pacer, and Fakhar Zaman, the top-order batsman. Ashraf will be in the company of Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan and Hasan Ali, who make up the side’s pace attack.
History
Pakistan has reached the semi-final thrice, in 2000 (ICC Knockout Trophy 2000), 2004 and 2009. In the most recent edition, in 2013 in England and Wales, they failed top progress past the group stage. Overall, Pakistan has played 18 matches in the tournament, winning seven and losing 11.
Recent form
Pakistan won their most recent ODI series by a 2-1 margin against the West Indies in early April, with Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik piling up the runs while Hasan Ali, Mohammad
In the preceding five-match series against Australia, Pakistan went down 4-1, with their only win coming in the second match in Melbourne. Australia outclassed Pakistan in the batting department, scoring in excess of 350 in two of their four massive wins in the contest.
Watch out for
Mohammad Amir burst onto the international scene as a 17-year-old
Amir was out of action for a long
He has been successful in that, showing sparks of the brilliance that caught the eye early in his career, and given the swinging conditions on offer in England, he could well be the biggest threat to the opposition in the competition.
Squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt, wk), Azhar Ali, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Haris Sohail, Fakhar Zaman, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Fahim Ashraf, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan, Shadab Khan.
Fixtures
June 4: v India at Edgbaston, Birmingham
June 7: v South Africa at Edgbaston, Birmingham
June 12: v Sri Lanka at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. DM
This article first appeared on the ICC media zone.
Photo: Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali acknowledges the crowd after making fifty runs during the second one day international (ODI) match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan, 29 May 2015. Zimbabwe and Pakistan play two T20 and three one-day international games in Lahore. EPA/RAHAT DAR EPA/RAHAT DAR