Pakistan name 12 players for the CT 2017 clash against India

The epic clash between India and Pakistan is just a day away. Though Pakistan does not have the kind of squad they had in the last few encounters – this is supposed to be the biggest match of the Champions Trophy 2017. With less than 24 hours for the match, the Pakistani team management has declared the 12 players who will be considered to feature in the XI for the game.

The three players who have been ruled out of contention include left-arm pacer Junaid Khan who has an excellent record against India with 8 wickets in 5 games. He has a particularly impressive advantage over India’s batting mainstay and captain Virat Kohli against whom he has an average of 0.67 having dismissed him thrice conceding just 2 runs.

Top order batsman Harris Sohail who was included in the squad as a replacement for unfit Umar Akmal is also not a part of the 12 men named for the match. The third name to miss out is left-handed batsman Fakhar Zaman who is yet to make his ODI debut for the Pakistani team and has played just 4 T20Is scoring a total of 73 runs.

This indicates the chances of 18-year-old leg-spinner Shahdab Khan getting a game are high considering some of the Indian batsmen struggle against quality wrist spin and his record of 5 wickets in 3 ODIs that he has played. They might also want to strengthen the batting with the inclusion of Faheem Ashraf who bowls right-arm medium pace and is a more accomplished batter.

Shahdab if awarded a CT debut will become the 8th youngest cricketer to feature in a Champions Trophy game and the third youngest from his nation. Whereas 23-year-old Faheem will earn his maiden ODI cap if the team management decides to pick him over the leggie.

In the pre-match press conference, Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed had a funny take on how they are coping up with the pressure from all directions ahead of the high-voltage game.

“I would tell the boys to not read the newspapers at this time but it’s ok as none of them read newspapers anyway,” he said.

Pakistan 12 for the opening match of the Champions Trophy 2017 against India

Sarfraz Ahmed (C), Ahmed Shehzad, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Fahim Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz