ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday announced a 15-player squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, recalling Fakhar Zaman after an injury ruled out Saim Ayub.
Pakistan is scheduled to host the tournament from February 19 till March 9 and the PCB has until February 11 to make any changes to the squad. After that, replacements will only be permitted on medical grounds, subject to approval by an International Cricket Council (ICC) committee.
There are four changes in the 15-player squad that last played a one-day international (ODI) series in South Africa late last year. Abdullah Shafique, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub and Sufyan Moqim have been replaced by Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah and Saud Shakeel.
The same squad will feature in the tri-nation ODI series, featuring New Zealand and South Africa in Lahore and Karachi, in the lead up to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
“The selectors have continued to adopt a horses-for-courses approach in assembling this squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025,” Asad Shafiq, member of the National Selection Committee, said in a statement shared by the PCB.
“Our focus has been on selecting players who have consistently excelled in domestic competitions under similar conditions, demonstrating their readiness to perform in a global event.”
The squad, captained by Mohammad Rizwan with Salman Ali Agha as vice-captain, includes three members from the 2017 title-winning side: Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf and Fakhar Zaman. Babar and Fakhar, along with Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Saud Shakeel also featured in the last 50-over Cricket World Cup 2023.
Following the World Cup 2023, Pakistan have played three ODI series, defeating 50-over world champions Australia 2-1, Zimbabwe 2-1 and South Africa 3-0.
Opener Fakhar Zaman, who scored a century in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final against India, makes a comeback after overcoming injury and illness that had sidelined him from international cricket since June 2024. Fakhar demonstrated his return to complete fitness and form during the Champions T20 Cup 2024 in December, where he was the third-highest run-scorer with 303 runs at an impressive strike-rate of over 132. In 82 ODIs, Fakhar has scored 3,492 runs with 11 centuries and 16 half-centuries at an average of 46.5 and strike-rate of 93.4.
Pakistan Test vice-captain Saud Shakeel has been rewarded for his consistent and strong performances in home Tests by earning a place in the side. The left-hander played his 15th and last ODI against England in Kolkata in the ICC Men’s 50-over World Cup 2023 but has scored 577 runs in 13 Test innings at home this season with two centuries and two half-centuries against Bangladesh, England and the West Indies.
All-rounders Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah return to the 50-over squad, adding versatility and providing captain Mohammad Rizwan with additional options. Faheem’s 34th and last ODI was in September 2023 and since then he has been one of the most consistent domestic performers across all formats, while Khushdil last represented Pakistan in ODIs in August 2022 and has earned the selectors nod after scoring 176 runs in the Champions One-Day Cup as well as scoring 132 runs and taking nine wickets in the Champions T20 Cup.
“One of the standout qualities of this side is its flexibility, an essential trait in today’s modern-day cricket. We are confident that this squad strikes the right balance between youth and experience, and has all bases covered,” Shafiq said.
“Saim Ayub has not been included in the squad due to an ankle injury, but we remain optimistic about his recovery.”
PAKISTAN SQUAD
Batters: Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir
All-rounders: Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain)
Wicketkeeper-batters: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Usman Khan
Spinner: Abrar Ahmed
Fast bowlers: Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Pakistan recall Fakhar to Champions Trophy squad after injury rules Saim Ayub out
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Pakistan recall Fakhar to Champions Trophy squad after injury rules Saim Ayub out
- Pakistan is scheduled to host the tournament from February 19 till March 9 and the PCB has until February 11 to make any changes to the squad
- Same squad will play tri-nation series, featuring New Zealand and South Africa in Lahore and Karachi, in the lead up to Champions Trophy 2025
McLaren to exit Formula E at end of the season
- The reigning Formula One constructors champions said in a statement on Friday that the decision, after three seasons in Formula E with a team racing under the McLaren brand
The reigning Formula One constructors champions said in a statement on Friday that the decision, after three seasons in Formula E with a team racing under the McLaren brand, followed a strategic review of activities.
“The time is right to explore other opportunities that more closely align with McLaren Racing’s overall strategic direction — including our 2027 entry into the FIA World Endurance Championship,” said McLaren CEO Zak Brown.
“For now, we are focused on setting this great team up for future success by working toward securing a new owner.”
A Formula E spokesperson raised the possibility of the partnership continuing through next year.
“We recognize that the commercial landscape in motorsport is dynamic and often subject to change,” the spokesperson added. “Despite this development, the team... is already engaged in positive discussions with potential partners and investors.
“We are confident the team will remain a strong presence in the championship, operating under a new identity if required.”
McLaren took over the British-based team from Mercedes when the German carmaker left at the end of 2022 to focus on Formula One.
The team, sponsored by Saudi Arabia’s NEOM, was founded in 2019 and ran separately, under the leadership of Ian James, to McLaren’s Formula One and IndyCar outfits. It is third overall after five rounds.
Formula E puts its global fan base at nearly 400 million.
Liverpool have ‘big responsibility’ to win title at Anfield: Slot
- Arne Slot believes Liverpool have a “big responsibility” to clinch the Premier League title in front of their own fans when Tottenham visit Anfield on Sunday
LONDON: Arne Slot believes Liverpool have a “big responsibility” to clinch the Premier League title in front of their own fans when Tottenham visit Anfield on Sunday.
Slot’s side will be crowned English champions for a record-equalling 20th time if they avoid defeat against struggling Tottenham.
Liverpool have five games left to seal the title and need just one point to do so, making it only a matter of time before they get their hands on the trophy.
The Reds’ last title five years ago was slightly anti-climactic as it came during the Covid-19 pandemic, meaning Anfield was empty when the trophy was presented due to lockdown restrictions.
And, with Liverpool traveling to Chelsea for their next league game after the Tottenham clash, Slot acknowledged there is extra pressure to seal the title on home turf.
“It’s a big responsibility. We are aware that the last time this club won the league was during the Covid time. So everybody is looking forward to Sunday,” Slot told reporters on Friday.
“We know there’s still a job to do. We need at least one point. Our fans know as well. When they come to the stadium they have to support us in the best possible way as they have done all season.
“It’s a nice game to look forward to but also a responsibility we have for Sunday.”
Liverpool nearly secured the title on Wednesday when Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw by Crystal Palace, who would have wrapped up the trophy for Slot’s men with a victory at the Emirates Stadium.
Slot and his players gathered to watch the Arsenal game in the hope of celebrating together.
Instead, Liverpool sit 12 points clear of Arsenal, who have just four games left, meaning Slot and company are primed to revel in an even more raucous party against Tottenham.
“It was different. Normally when you watch a game of football, you are either alone or with family or friends. But we watched it all together,” Slot said.
“Before the game, I would have been surprised if the game ended in a draw. But during the game, I wasn’t because Crystal Palace again showed what this league is all about.”
Equalling the record of 20 English titles set by bitter rivals Manchester United will add extra verve to Liverpool fans’ celebrations.
In his first season since replacing the beloved Jurgen Klopp, former Feyenoord boss Slot will become the 12th manager to win the Premier League and the first Dutchman.
Asked if he has considered the historic connotations of Liverpool’s imminent triumph, Slot insisted he was focused only on Tottenham.
“No, I get these questions so it comes to your mind but it is the last thing you think of as a manager at this time. We saw last week how hard it was to get a win against a team that was nearly relegated at Leicester,” he said.
“I am not getting carried away. We have faced Tottenham three times and I know how hard it is to beat them.”
It is a mark of Slot’s impressive impact on a team that fell away in Klopp’s final season that Liverpool have been beaten just twice in the league this term.
“This club has to win trophies,” Slot said of the pressure of managing Liverpool. “The good thing is most managers work here a long time so you have a few chances to win trophies.
“You are aware of that but that is not the first thing that you think about when you walk through this door.”
Some critics claim Liverpool have benefited from Manchester City’s steep decline and the injuries that damaged Arsenal’s challenge.
But Slot said: “Everybody can have their own opinion. You might have a different opinion. That is the nice thing about the world we are living in. I am only here for a year so I can only tell you what I experienced.
“It has never been as hard to end up in the top four or five. In my opinion it is a really difficult league.
Bayern Munich keeping title talk to a minimum ahead of Mainz game, coach says
- The Bavarians, eight points clear with four matches left, could seal their 34th league crown with a win over Mainz should second-placed Bayer Leverkusen fail to beat Augsburg
MUNICH: No one at Bayern Munich is even talking about a potential Bundesliga title win in Saturday’s home game against Mainz 05, coach Vincent Kompany said on Friday.
The Bavarians, eight points clear with four matches left, could seal their 34th league crown with a win over Mainz should second-placed Bayer Leverkusen fail to beat Augsburg.
“I only prepare for the Mainz game. Only the game is important, those 90 minutes,” Kompany told a press conference when asked about planning for potential title celebrations.
“All those scenarios are not yet in my head.
“We lost against Mainz (earlier in the season). The way I know my team is that the motivation is so big for tomorrow,” he said. “We know the qualities of Mainz, but our motivation is so high that we will be look at our own qualities.”
Bayern head of sport Max Eberl echoed the coach’s views, saying it was still too early to celebrate.
“Bayern can earn their 34th German league title,” Eberl said. “It would be my first. But I don’t want to hear anything (about celebration planning). When we achieve it then we will start but I don’t want to hear anything about it now.”
Thomas Mueller, who will be leaving at the end of the season after 25 years at the club, could make his 500th league appearance for the side, though he did not train on Thursday due to illness.
“Thomas was a bit sick. But I hope he is back in training today and will be there tomorrow,” Kompany said.
The Bavarians, who last season saw Leverkusen win the domestic league and Cup double, will also be competing for the title at the 32-team Club World Cup in the United States starting in June.
The winners will earn up to $125 million, according to world soccer’s governing body FIFA.
“The Club World cup is the first time with such a format and both sporting and financially extremely lucrative,” Eberl said.
“We go there to win the title and if we can generate revenues then that is wonderful.”
Alhyasat to face Bendaoud in featherweight quarterfinal at 2025 PFL MENA
- Jordanian faces Moroccan rival on May 9 in Jeddah
JEDDAH: The 2025 PFL MENA season kicks off on May 9 with Jordan’s Abdelrahman Alhyasat facing Taha Bendaoud of Morocco in the quarterfinals of the featherweight tournament at Onyx Arena in Jeddah.
Last season, Alhyasat was a revelation at 145 pounds, picking up impressive wins over Ahmed Tarek and eventual champion Abdullah Al-Qahtani to reach the final round, before being forced to withdraw due to injury.
Now back to full health, the 35-year-old is planning to get back to the top of the mountain and claim the title that many fans believe should have been his in the first place.
“This tournament is a pivotal moment in my professional career. It’s not just another fight — it’s a step toward something much bigger,” Alhyasat said.
“Thanks to God, I’m more than ready for this league. I’ve worked hard to reach this level, and I believe my skill set is above everyone else in the division.”
After last season’s dominant win over Al-Qahtani, Alhyasat is coming into the new season with a lot of confidence on his side.
“I’m entering the cage with full confidence and a clear goal: to achieve another milestone for Jordan,” he said.
For this season, Alhyasat spent time training in Thailand and said that there he sharpened every aspect of his game, working with coaches from every discipline.
“Right now, I’m in Phuket, training with some of the best coaches in the world. I’ve surrounded myself with specialists in boxing, wrestling, and grappling to make sure no detail is left behind,” Alhyasat said.
“This camp has been the most intense and focused of my career — it’s about refining every part of my game so I can perform at my best when it matters most.”
But Alhyasat will have his work cut out for him when he takes on a highly rated PFL MENA newcomer in Moroccan Taha Bendaoud.
“Bendaoud is a strong opponent, and I respect his skills,” said Alhyasat. “He’s not far off in level from someone like Abdullah Al-Qahtani. He’s got the talent, no doubt.”
While Alhyasat has nothing but respect, the Jordanian said that he has faced Bendaoud before and knows exactly what he brings to the table.
“I’ve faced him before and come out on top. I know where his weaknesses are, and I’ve trained specifically to exploit them,” Alhyasat said. “I’ve prepared a game plan that leaves no room for mistakes.”
As for a fight prediction, Alhyasat sees this one being over quickly.
“This fight will end in the first round, God willing. I’m ready to send a message to everyone in the division,” he said.
While Bendaoud will be making his PFL MENA debut, this will not be his first time inside the PFL SmartCage. The undefeated Moroccan is 4-0 in his fledgling career, and was initially supposed to be part of the inaugural PFL MENA season, but missed weight for his season debut, and ended up being forced off the tournament altogether.
He bounced back in spectacular fashion with a second-round submission win over the more experienced Tariq Ismail at Battle of the Giants in October. The impressive win over the previously undefeated Ismail became sort of an audition for this year’s PFL MENA season, and his reward is a quarterfinal bout against the man who dominated the division’s champion.
With a second chance at becoming a PFL MENA champion, Bendaoud said he is ready for another opportunity.
“I’m having the best fight camp of my life. I’ve been training twice a day since my last fight, and I feel like I’ve evolved in every part of my game. I’m excited to step in there and show the PFL fans what I’ve been working on.”
Bendaoud added that the missed opportunity in Season 1 was a big learning experience.
“In Season 1, I wasn’t in shape and I couldn’t make weight. I missed a big opportunity, but it taught me a lot,” he said. “Since then, I’ve been working really hard to be at my best. I’m on weight and more focused than ever.”
Against Alhyasat, Bendaoud admitted that he will be sharing the SmartCage with a tough opponent.
“(Alhyasat) is a solid, well-rounded fighter with a lot of experience,” he said. “I respect his skills and I think it’s a great challenge.”
But Bendaoud believes that he can hang with Alhyasat, no matter what situation their fight brings.
“I feel confident in every area: striking, grappling, wrestling. I’m prepared for whatever comes and ready to perform at a high level,” Bendaoud said.
While Bendaoud is not one for predictions, what he guarantees is that he will give his best and that the fans can expect a great fight.
“I don’t like to make predictions, but I can promise this: I’ll give my best, fight with heart and confidence, and leave it all in there. The rest is in Allah’s hands, He’s the best of planners.”
“We’re going to put on a great show for the fans,” Bendaoud said.
Thunder rally from 29 down after Morant hurt to stun Grizzlies
- Ja Morant’s injury play evoked memories of Golden State’s Jimmy Butler falling awkwardly Wednesday
- At Detroit, Karl-Anthony Towns sparked the Knicks to a 2-1 series lead
LOS ANGELES: Oklahoma City made a stunning 29-point comeback after Memphis lost star guard Ja Morant to a hip injury as the Thunder beat the Grizzlies 114-108 on Thursday to reach the brink of a playoff sweep.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, Jalen Williams added 26 and Chet Holmgren scored 23 of his 24 points in the second half to spark the second-largest NBA playoff victory fightback since 1997.
“It wasn’t pretty. They hit us first. But we did what we had to do and came away with a win,” Holmgren said. “It was a team mentality. Everybody was saying something when we went into that locker room. Then we came out and we cleaned it up.”
Oklahoma City seized a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference first round best-of-seven series with a chance to complete the sweep in Game 4 at Memphis on Saturday.
Morant suffered a bruised left hip late in the second quarter when he drove to the hoop and leapt high into the Thunder’s Luguentz Dort and fell face-first onto the court, writhing in pain for several minutes and eventually leaving the game for good.
The Grizzlies took their largest lead at 69-40 seconds after Morant’s departure with 3:15 to play in the second quarter and Memphis led 77-51 at half-time, but Oklahoma City outscored the hosts 63-31 in the second half.
Memphis interim coach Tuomas Iisalo said the injury to Morant, the Grizzlies points and assist leader this season, sapped his team’s energy and ability to execute plays.
“I would say quite drastically from the result, not only the energy but the execution,” Iisalo said.
“We did a great job fighting for 48 minutes but against this team it’s not enough to fight. You also have to be able to execute.”
As for Morant, he added: “He’s going through further evaluations tomorrow and then we’ll know more.”
The only greater NBA playoff collapse in the past 25 years came in 2019 when the Los Angeles Clippers rallied from 31 points down to defeat Golden State.
“Our response, in a game that doesn’t feel attainable in certain parts of it, was great,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.
The Morant injury play evoked memories of Golden State’s Jimmy Butler falling awkwardly Wednesday, with an MRI on Thursday reportedly showing a deeply bruised gluteus muscle that left him uncertain for game three against Houston on Saturday.
Other playoff results Thursday saw New York win 118-116 at Detroit and the Clippers rout visiting Denver 117-83.
Scotty Pippen Jr., who led Memphis with 28 points and a career-best six three-pointers, sparked the Grizzlies early, a 25-5 span seeing the Thunder shoot a woeful 2-of-15.
Momentum turned with the injury to Morant, who had 15 points and five rebounds.
Oklahoma City, which had not rallied from more than 22 points to win this season, shot 15-of-18 from the floor to start the third quarter to pull within 95-87 entering the fourth.
Oklahoma City’s first lead came when Williams sank a free throw with 80 seconds remaining for a 109-108 edge.
Holmgren added two more free throws with 57 seconds to play and Alex Caruso scored on a fast break layup for a 113-108 edge as Memphis didn’t score in the game’s last 4:51.
Also in the West, the Clippers took a 2-1 series edge over Denver as Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points while James Harden and Norman Powell each had 20 for LA, which surged ahead 65-47 at half-time and pulled away.
Serbian center Nikola Jokic had his 20th career playoff triple double with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists for the Nuggets, who also had 23 points from Jamal Murray in their largest loss of the campaign.
At Detroit, New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns scored 31 points and Jalen Brunson added 30 to spark the Knicks to a 2-1 series lead.
O.G. Anunoby added 22 points and Mikal Bridges contributed 20 to seize the edge with game four set for Sunday in Detroit.
The loss extended a stinging futility run for the Pistons, who have not won a playoff series in 17 years and have not won a home playoff game since May 2008.
