Gearing up for the Champions Trophy

E-Paper | June 14, 2026

With the Champions Trophy just a month away, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) seems to be taking steps to ensure success at the ICC event in England which starts from June 6.

Pakistan are set to play two one-day matches each against Ireland and Scotland in May before the Trophy. They are drawn in group B alongside India, the West Indies and South Africa. They play the West Indies at The Oval, London on June 7 before South Africa on June 10 and India five days later.

The PCB’s preparations for the Champions Trophy included a ten-day training camp for fast bowlers led by Wasim Akram to boost the pace attack while Australian Trent Woodhill was appointed Pakistan's batting coach for the Champions Trophy.

Shahid Afridi was dropped from the 15-man squad for because of his lacklustre performance in South Africa along with Umar Akmal. Pacemen Ehsan Adil and Asad Ali were included while Umar Gul was earlier ruled out due to an injury.

Afridi blamed ODI captain Misbah-ul-Haq for his exclusion from the squad, saying he was still better than most players and will make a comeback to the national team.

What are Pakistan’s chances of winning the Champions Trophy based on the squad picked?

Were the selectors right to drop Afridi for the Champions Trophy? Were the all-rounder’s comments regarding his exclusion justified?

Will a ten-day training camp for the fast bowlers be enough to make an impact in England?

How much of a difference will hiring a batting coach just a month before the event make?

Squad: Misbah-ul Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Imran Farhat, Asad Shafiq, Abdul Rehman, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (wicket-keeper), Umar Amin, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Saeed Ajmal, Asad Ali, Ehsan Adil, Wahab Riaz.

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Forum

Brandsynario

May 03, 2013 10:53am

Pakistani team have many youngsters and there is lot of burder on other players after Afridi was dropped from the main team

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Syed

May 03, 2013 09:47am

Where are Hamad Azam,Hassan Raza? Don't understanding selecting Wahab Riaz or Abdul Rehmans selection over two huge talents!

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Rogers Evans

May 01, 2013 12:40pm

Afridi is not in form and he accepts this. But all his critics have come out swinging. Most of these critics have never had chance to play cricket. These people forgot the records, set by Afridi. His presence in tean makes oppositon shiver. Instead of appreciating him, these critics are saying lot of unwanted things. Such critics should be ashamed of themselves. There are many in the team, whose performance is not equal to Afridi. It is not new, Pakistani nation never appriciates their heroes. I suggest, Afridi to ignore all r=criticism and work hard to slience such people. In the end, I wish Pak team good luck, but I do not hope this team moving to next stage. If this tam fails to go to semi-finals. the selectors and captain must resign.

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Ricky

May 03, 2013 08:30am

We will bury the Pakistani team....you watch!!! We beat them in Mohali....& ....Colombo. ....We will beat them in Edgbaston.....and I'll watch it live!!!

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msk

May 02, 2013 11:17am

It looks like this team will be thrashed by most of the teams

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Irtiza

May 03, 2013 04:37am

The batting coach is an unknown oddity. Politics doesn't seem to be leaving PCB anytime soon. Afridi seems to be dropped based on his support for PTI, while the current chairman PCB is a known PPP appointee. It's just amazing how we have a tendency to target people based on their political, religious and ethnic affiliations. Also, why isn't Anwar Ali included in the squad? The guy has prodigious inswing and from recent reports has worked out a killer outswinger as well. The other bowlers are not talented, they can just bowl.

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Syed

May 03, 2013 09:50am

Where are Ahmad Shezad? Imran Farhat!! I dont get it! Worst selection ever!

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Usama

May 02, 2013 05:16am

pakistan is looking gud with this squad but a fast bowling allrounder must needed like Razzaq or hammad azam. as Razzaq is not playing domestic matches then Hammad must be given a chance. Otherwise a gud squad with experience and younger players also in it. And this squad had a capability to beat other teams

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Arif

May 02, 2013 04:36am

Ahmed Shezad should have been in the team in place of Farhat. Kamran Akmal should be out of the team permanently. Thank god Afridi and Umer Akmal are gone both having pathetic mentality. Hammad Azam , Anwar Ali , Harris Sohail and Mohammed Rizwan should be included in the team. Asad Shafiq should be included in all formats since he will be the one replacing Younis khan and is our best best batsman currently.

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Amjed

May 02, 2013 04:06am

Somebody please let me know why Malik and Farhat are being selected continuously even though their performance is the most poor for last one year among the team members? I am unable to understand logic behind their selection.

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Saood

May 02, 2013 03:36am

Kick out Wahab and put in Haris Sohail or Umar Akmal.

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Bilal A

May 02, 2013 03:11am

POOR BATSMAN all they who are included in squad.

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sali

May 02, 2013 02:10am

Makes no sense to have Shoib Malik ahead of Afridi and Umer Akmal. Imran Farhat ahead of Ahmed Shezad. It fragile batting and medicor bowling unit.

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arshad

May 01, 2013 08:27pm

Dropping afridi is a right decission, actually BOOM BOOM factor harmed Pakistan cricket as the individual always plays for the gallery not for the country. Actually Pakistan plays with 10 individuals especially when he is taking 4 wickets at over 100 strike rate in last 13-14 matches. It is time to look ahead , trust the youth. Its also the time for Misbah to say goodbye atleast as captain, because team lead by a defensive leader actually takes over the offensive spirit out of Pakistan....the hall mark of Pakistan cricket for which they are feared the world over 2nd test in South Africa was only lost due to defensive tactics by Misbah..... did not give Hafeez an over when Ajmal was spinning yards from other end .....lack of common sense or some thing else, Did not play Irfan in 1st test match due to fitness concerns..... Pakistan needs good agressive leader like imran not 10 coaches.......

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May 01, 2013 02:09pm

Hafiz the opener will be a flop for sure. My team will have the following 11 on the field. Umar Amin, Nasir Jamshed, Kamra Akmal, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Hafiz, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Abdul Razaq, Juaid Khan*, Mohammad Irfan, Said Ajmal... I am sure Razaq would have been a better preposition than wayward Wahab in swinging conditions and then an added bat too. AND yes I would take out Misbah and let Junaid run the show (not Hafiz who is not sure of his ow place)

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appkhi

May 01, 2013 05:20pm

I agree with Ahmad this is fine if the drop Afridi but what Kamran, Malik and Imran farhat are doing in the team? They are still in the team because they have back from corrupt political figures... We are seeing for years Pakistan have weakest batting among grade A teams. They still bringing players from parchi culture... selectors should give answer what is their criteria to drop Afridi and select these three?

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arshad

May 01, 2013 05:09pm

Pakistan must look for following youngsters if thaey realy want to win:- Anwar Ali Ahmed Shahzad Umer Akmal as opener with a lisence to kill (probably will be last chance for him/ a role like Kevin Peterson) Hamad Azam muhammad nawaz lefti from pak juniors where is that left hander from sialkot stalions, dropped without playing a match also look for a keeper in muhammad rizwan from peshawar also get rid of this chief selector

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arshad

May 01, 2013 04:57pm

1.poor selection once again Why imran farhat has been prefered over Ahmed Shahzad? God knows Why no all rounder included to give balance to team when Hamad Azam, Yasir arafat and Sohail Tanveer were available No leg spinners included, I hope Afridi is not the only one in Pakistan. A genuine leg spinner always is a match winning weapon against South African and West Indies? especially when Abdul Rehaman will sit out With due respect to Misbah, I think Hafeez is a much better choice as a captain, being innovative and agressive. Misbahs stats look inflated due matches in UAE. I donot think Pakistan has high percentage chances to win with this combination

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Ahmad Zubairi

May 01, 2013 12:30pm

I think its right to drop Shahid afridi as he has not been in good form. We should have dropped Kamran and shoaib they have not been performing. Kamran is one player who played half his career on last chance.We should not only focus of winning but building a new combination. Fear of losing make us stick with same inconsistent average lot who has occasionally brought us victories and we want to keep believing they will do it again. I am disappointed with Umer akmal's drop he has hardly been given a chance and dropped .Hammad Azam is another one to be looked at.

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HM, Canada

May 01, 2013 03:04pm

WILL NEVER WATCH CRICKET AGAIN...read the book by ED Hawkins, Bookie Gambler Fixer Spy. All India and Pakistan matches are fixed. Read this... So the conspiracy theorists claim that one of two plots was hatched. The first, that the Indian business lobby, powerful and unimaginably rich, pooled cash to buy off the Pakistan team and ensure no ignominy. The other that the two governments, recognising the state of peril the region could find itself in with Pakistan playing a World Cup final in Mumbai, struck a deal. For the victory, India would reinvigorate trade between the two countries. It is claimed that 400 MoUs with regard to trade were signed in the wake of Mohali. MoUs, of course, mean nothing on their own, but there has been an improvement in relations. The two signed Favoured Nation Status agreements and a new terminal was opened in April 2012 at the Wagah-Attari border. There are also rumours of the Pakistan Cricket Board being paid US$1 million for their cooperation. Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/match-fixing-ed-hawkins-book-bookie-gambler-fixer-spy-exposes-nexus-between-bookies-and-cricketers/1/229433.html

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Muba Khan

May 02, 2013 07:11pm

yup..kick out the one who took 5 wickets agaist India in semi final and bring in the one who bowls on the wrong foot and evryone knows how to play him now..the other (U Akma) had countless chances and can't stop thinking like a 2 year old.

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Ahmed Bilal

May 01, 2013 02:23pm

i wonder when liabilities like Imran farhat and Kamran Akmal will be dropped from the team

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shahid

May 01, 2013 01:53pm

How long should we go on with the same failed batsmen. Why didn't they select Haris Sohail and Omar Akmal? Umar has a better batting than all of them. PCB has been putting an undue pressure on him while wanting him to bat like Misbah and Younis. If batting like in a test match could make some one a better ODI player then Younis should have had an average of about 50.

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Muba Khan

May 02, 2013 07:08pm

It looks like you want them to fail

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Capt C M Khan

May 01, 2013 02:30pm

Best that has happened out of form Younus, Gul and Afridi OUT, OUT, OUT. So happy I am confident Pakistan will do well. Wish only if Kamran was dropped, he always drops catches, misses stumpings of top players like AB etc ane we loose. Someone help us.

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May 01, 2013 02:36pm

The selectors made the correct decision to drop Afridi. He has lost his spark and has not been performing for some time now. However, what still baffles me is why Farhat, Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik were retained. Farhat has been a liability on the team for some time now and is a selfish player which was evident when he tried to get to his century instead of taking the team over the line in the fourth ODI against SA. I personally would have liked Umar Akmal in the team, considering he is one person who can change the game. At present we don't have the ability to chase a score over 250. Batting looks reasonably weak with four potential openers in the squad. And with the moving Duke ball, I don't think we stand a chance against the quality attacks of SA and Aus.

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