Sarfaraz named captain of ICC Champions Trophy team

E-Paper | June 16, 2026

Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed was named captain of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy team for 2017 by the ICC on Monday, a day after the green shirts trounced India the series final.

The squad includes four Pakistanis, three Indians, three Englishmen and one Bangladeshi, with Kane Williamson of New Zealand as the 12th man.

The jury of cricket experts who selected the players include former cricket captains Ramiz Raja, Michael Atherton, Sourav Ganguly, cricket analysts Lawrence Booth and Julian Guyer and ICC General Manager Geoff Allardice, who also acted as the chairman of the panel.

The team lineup, in batting order, includes:

Shikhar Dhawan (India) (338 runs)
Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan) (252 runs)
Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh) (293 runs)
Virat Kohli (India) (258 runs)
Joe Root (England) (258 runs)
Ben Stokes (England) (184 runs and three wickets)
Sarfraz Ahmed (Pakistan) (captain) (wicketkeeper) (76 runs and nine dismissals)
Adil Rashid (England) (seven wickets)
Junaid Khan (Pakistan) (eight wickets)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (India) (seven wickets)
Hassan Ali (Pakistan) (13 wickets)
Kane Williamson (New Zealand) (12th) (244 runs)

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truthspeaks

Jun 19, 2017 06:59pm

i personally think dhoni should be there instead of sarfraz, i am a pakistani

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Malik Murad

Jun 19, 2017 07:00pm

Very well balanced side.... However, I think one of Yuvraj or Mathews could have been the 12th man.

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Yawar

Jun 19, 2017 07:08pm

Great honor for Pakistan. Keep it up boys.

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KHAWAJA

Jun 19, 2017 07:12pm

what is the purpose of having this team ? do they go out and play for charitable events?

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Ali

Jun 19, 2017 07:13pm

Congrats to Sarfaraz Ahmed and his team.

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babar saeed/CANADA

Jun 19, 2017 07:38pm

What a game by Pakistan.We sure are very proud of them.We out performed India in all aspect of that game.

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Sudarshan Keshav

Jun 19, 2017 07:45pm

Congratulations Pakistan!!!! You have a captain of Imran Khan's caliber.... nurture him well.

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Baba bandook

Jun 19, 2017 07:45pm

Who is this team going to play against? Proud moment for Pakistan and sarfaraz.

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Congrats

Jun 19, 2017 07:46pm

Congrats Sarfaraz you're a born leader. You have earned your respect. Hasan, fakhar and Junaid keep it up. Amir you know what you're capable of, you are the best.

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Maarif sohail

Jun 19, 2017 07:55pm

Now that's a serious set of talented players with stellar performances in the last two weeks or so.

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Ahmad bajwa

Jun 19, 2017 08:00pm

@truthspeaks ok. But I can't get it. You can give your opinions without mentioning that you are a pakistani or indian. Well sarfraz is the winning captain and dhoni doesn't include the selecting team.

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Adnan

Jun 19, 2017 08:02pm

Well done Pakistan team your good performance make all nation so proud and happy you guys deserve lots of respect and rewards GOD bless you have good EID with your family.

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wajid

Jun 19, 2017 08:05pm

Well Done Pak Team

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CHACHA

Jun 19, 2017 08:11pm

Great honor for Pakistan, Great achievement , stay humble Sarfaraz. All the best.

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Zubair

Jun 19, 2017 08:14pm

How can u keep Mohd Amir out...he threatens as wicket taking main strike bowler with Junaid in tandem applying extreme pressure at both ends so Kumar out, mohd Amir in.

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nafis

Jun 19, 2017 08:15pm

@truthspeaks Take Indian nationality. I am proud to see Sarfraz as a Captain

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Sajj

Jun 19, 2017 08:18pm

@Adnan he doesn't understand sarfaraz is man of the moment. Dhoni used to be ten years ago

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Malik

Jun 19, 2017 08:21pm

Surprised Amir is not included.

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Abdulla hussain

Jun 19, 2017 08:25pm

@truthspeaks: Dhoni was good Sarfaraz is good. We dont live in the past.

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Malik Murad

Jun 19, 2017 08:27pm

Oh! I just noticed Amir is missing in this lineup. How can he miss making into World 11?????

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Asim

Jun 19, 2017 09:01pm

Sarfaraz is a highly accomplished cricketer and captain - we must provide full faith to our own boys.

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Asim

Jun 19, 2017 09:02pm

@Abdulla hussain you are absolutely right!

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Naxalite

Jun 19, 2017 09:07pm

@truthspeaks No Sarfraz is there very rightly

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Ali

Jun 19, 2017 09:31pm

There is none captain better than Dhoni in this era. He should lead the team.

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Ali

Jun 19, 2017 09:48pm

@truthspeaks the reason why you are not on ICC selection committee is that you have advice like that.

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Kailash Singh

Jun 19, 2017 09:56pm

M S Dhoni should be in the team as a captain and a wicketkeeper.

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misterbhai

Jun 19, 2017 10:20pm

good pick. I agree

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Bilal

Jun 19, 2017 10:25pm

@truthspeaks I personally think you are not thinking right. Also how can we verify that you are a Pakistani?

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Rational

Jun 19, 2017 10:45pm

What abt Aamir

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Eye

Jun 19, 2017 10:48pm

Playing eleven has eight players from Sub-Continent. No Australian or South African in ICC team - this is interesting.

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Javed Arshad

Jun 19, 2017 11:06pm

Amir has fewer wickets but cannot be ignored. He is the most lethal seamer today the game has.

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Farhan

Jun 19, 2017 11:17pm

So proud of u ..... Alhamdulillah

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Raja Farhat Abbas

Jun 19, 2017 11:36pm

@nafis ..Good reply!

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jun 20, 2017 12:06am

Welcome to the club.

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Amir

Jun 20, 2017 12:21am

@truthspeaks team is selected based on performance in the tournament and sarfraz clearly performed better than dhoni. He played a winning knock against sri lanka whilst dhoni failed when he needed to contribute against Pakistan. I am a big fan of dhoni but he had a poor tournament

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Iqbal HADI ZAIDI

Jun 20, 2017 12:31am

I salute not just clap or even greet Sarfraz+ Fakhar + Junaid + Hassan to be included in ICC team. I wish they still flutter atop our flag, inshaallah. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidi.formerdiplomat@hotmail.com

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Sajid

Jun 20, 2017 12:33am

What a positive move from ICC....EXCELLENT idea to made Sarfaraz Captain.This match will test Sarfaraz mental capability and sportsmanship. Also a move for indian and English player to study a abit sarfaraz captaincy tactics.

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Syed

Jun 20, 2017 12:48am

Great to see lot of Pakistani names!!!!

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Khalid

Jun 20, 2017 12:51am

@truthspeaks This is what Aamir Suhail and Waqqar Yunus opined, and they may send complaining about this.

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debarshi kar

Jun 20, 2017 01:19am

With love and peace from India You guys played awesome cricket it is a story of true grit and determination, hope the two nation can realize that peace and friendship are the best way forward. The west wants to divide us like they did prior to 1947, they want us to remain poor and backward. Best wishes to people on the other side

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asad

Jun 20, 2017 01:24am

muhammad amir..?

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Jun 20, 2017 01:25am

@truthspeaks agreed from another Pakistani

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Amir

Jun 20, 2017 02:19am

Where is Amir?

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saqib ghumman

Jun 20, 2017 03:06am

Great news for Pak

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Dr. Atif

Jun 20, 2017 03:15am

@truthspeaks keeping everytging aside, its a mandate for trophy lifting captain.

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Hamid

Jun 20, 2017 03:45am

@truthspeaks sure you are. Kidaa!

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Amer

Jun 20, 2017 03:46am

@truthspeaks : Totally disagree! What was Dhoni's contribution in the CT ?

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Awaz...

Jun 20, 2017 04:18am

Dhoni should lead the side, and where is Angelo Mathews. I am Pakistani and I think Sarfaraz is not capable of leading the world eleven although he won the ICC Champians Trophy.

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Syed Mahmood

Jun 20, 2017 04:54am

Very proud of Sarfaraz and his men.

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Azmeen

Jun 20, 2017 05:06am

This is an honor for Sarfraz & Pakistan.

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vorshal

Jun 20, 2017 05:09am

@CHACHA - Very well said. There will be many hurdles. Pakistan is now rated only sixth, and this is not without any reasons!

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Jun 20, 2017 06:35am

Dream team indeed!!!

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Syed Mahmood

Jun 20, 2017 06:48am

This is 2017 champions trophy team. That's why it's lead by Sarfaraz. If it was 2013, then it would be Dhoni

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Kamil

Jun 20, 2017 08:01am

"Sarfaraz to lead" is a misleading statement. This is not an actual team which is supposed to play matches. It is just to announce the top performers.

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Ali Rizvi

Jun 20, 2017 08:45am

What about Muhammad Amir?

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Samir Yadav

Jun 20, 2017 09:35am

Just remove one name of Virat Kohli from this team and bangladesh will beat this team 8 times out of 10. :)

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LOHI

Jun 20, 2017 10:01am

@Malik It is a fact that Mohd Amir's 3 early wickets are the reason for Pakistans victory. Imagine Amir did not get these wickets India would have got the runs comfortably.

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Abbott

Jun 20, 2017 04:28pm

@truthspeaks They probably considered best captaincy as well as performance as WC during champions trophy

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Jahanzeb

Jun 21, 2017 02:40pm

@truthspeaks bro seriously what else do u want

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Jahanzeb

Jun 21, 2017 02:40pm

Bro seriously what else do u want

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M. Siddique

Jun 21, 2017 05:28pm

Is it an imaginary team? Or will play some national teams?

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Hudhayfah

Jun 21, 2017 05:38pm

where's Aamir???

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Manish Srivastava

Jun 21, 2017 08:07pm

Dear Pakistani Cricket Team, Congratulations on winning the Champions Trophy. As much as I am dismayed by the loss of the Indian team, the fearless cricket you young men played was a breath of fresh air and I enjoyed it immensely. I hope and wish you continue playing the game with such passion A well wisher of cricket, Manish Srivastava, USA

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E. Lodhia , Chicago

Jun 21, 2017 09:26pm

Aamir not included? The man who destroyed India's frontline batting order and thus responsible of Indian defeat?

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CHARLIE

Jun 21, 2017 09:28pm

That spell in the finals, and Amer is not in there. How?

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E. Lodhia , Chicago

Jun 21, 2017 09:30pm

@truthspeaks Dhoni WAS a great captain no doubt but we are living in the present. Sarfaraz is the right choice.

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Saleem

Jun 21, 2017 11:39pm

@truthspeaks: Dhoni was a good captain but not any more. His time is up. It is the time for Sarfaraz. Well deserved!

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Saleem

Jun 21, 2017 11:40pm

Good Job Pakistan on a great victory. Pakistan played like champion and they are the champions now!

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Faisal Hasnain

Jun 22, 2017 01:11am

@Manish Srivastava dont be dismayed I think India was the best team along with england in champions trophy. Pakistan just managed to play better on the important days. India probably had the strongest batting in the tournament...

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Cricket-one

Jun 22, 2017 07:32am

@truthspeaks I personally think, that Dhoni was not playing there in the capacity of a captain. May be he could be chosen as a wicket keeper, considering, there was no overlap for this role, with someone else. Even India did not choose him as a captain.

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