The tournament will miss the presence of two former world champions, Sri Lanka and the West Indies, as they failed to qualify for this year's competition.

Veteran Fakhar Zaman is in the mix, having played a monumental role in the 2017 Champions Trophy final. He scored a maiden ODI ton (114 off 106 deliveries) at The Oval, London, as Pakistan beat India by 180 runs to claim the silverware. Also recalled are Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, and Saud Shakeel.

Host Pakistan has recalled opening batter Fakhar Zaman and allrounder Faheem Ashraf for the Champions Trophy and ruled out Saim Ayub due to a broken ankle.

Saud Shakeel could be the answer to Pakistan cricket team's lack of opening depth in the upcoming Champions Trophy.

Despite the criticism, Pakistan's national selector Asad Shafiq defended the selection, highlighting Faheem's experience and his role as a fast-bowling all-rounder. Shafiq emphasised that Faheem’s inclusion provides the team with an option for a fast-bowling all-rounder, which is crucial for the squad’s balance.

Fakhar Zaman returns to the Pakistan squad for the first time since a falling out with the PCB over a social media post, returning to the side for the Champions Trophy. In a statement which termed the squad a "horses for courses" approach,