The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced its squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, with a few notable omissions, including the experienced Imam-ul-Haq. Saim Ayub’s injury had opened the door for the talented left-hander to return to the international setup after last representing the team in 2023. However, he was overlooked for the 15-man squad, leaving Pakistan without a proper opener to partner Fakhar Zaman.
Reports in Pakistani media have surfaced that Imam-ul-Haq was firmly in the selectors’ plans for the Champions Trophy but may have been omitted due to concerns over his form and fitness.
Pakistan’s team management reportedly considered including Imam-ul-Haq in Pakistan’s second Test against the West Indies in Multan; however, doubts about his fitness led to his exclusion. His reported issues with match fitness also played a role in his omission from PCB’s central contracts for 2024–25, after previously being part of the B category in 2023–24.
Additionally, his early departure from a three-day match against the West Indies last month for the Pakistan Shaheens raised concerns within the selection committee. Imam-ul-Haq, who was leading the team, scored only five runs in the first innings and did not bat in the second. He later left for Lahore on the third day after taking permission from coach Umar Gul.
Following the squad announcement, Imam-ul-Haq took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share his thoughts. In a cryptic yet optimistic post, he wrote:
Imam-ul-Haq’s exclusion from the Champions Trophy squad leaves Pakistan an opener short at the top of the order. While the team is expected to experiment with Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam in the opening slot, Imam-ul-Haq played all 72 of his ODIs as an opener, amassing 3,138 runs at an impressive average of 48.27, including nine centuries and 20 half-centuries.
With the 2025 Champions Trophy just weeks away, it remains to be seen whether the selectors’ decision to leave out Imam-ul-Haq will work out or not
