Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan team selection and the PCB chief ahead of the highly anticipated Champions Trophy 2025. Expressing serious doubts over Pakistan's chances in the tournament, Akmal said that the selectors had made a poor team full of loopholes, which might lead them to struggle to even reach the semi-finals despite being the hosts.

"Pakistan ki team aisi hai chal jaaye toh chand tak, warna shaam tak. Our team has many loopholes. The bowling is struggling. Spinners are not there. The openers are struggling. I don't know what the selectors and the captain thought. Even our chairman gave his approval. Let's see how things unfold. The rest of the teams look much more balanced," Akmal noted.

Elaborating his concerns, the 43-year-old said, "We could have announced a better team. I think India, New Zealand, England, and South Africa will make the semi-finals. Australia is depleted because five key players have been injured. I don't know the thought process behind picking such a Pakistani team."

"The chairman hasn't played that much cricket; he doesn't understand matters, perhaps, so he gave his approval for such a team. India look clear favourites; they deserve to play the final. But I can't say the same about Pakistan. If they make the semi-final, I would consider it a big achievement," Akmal said in a conversation with HT.

According to Akmal, if the Pakistan cricket team reached the semi-final, then it would be considered a significant accomplishment. "If Pakistan beats one among India and New Zealand and is still unable to make the top four, I would still consider that Pakistan made the semi-finals. Such is the composition of our team," he concluded.

Pakistan Squad for Champions Trophy: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Ali Agha, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Abrar Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah.

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