New Delhi: The cricketing world is now looking at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as they have yet to announce their squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The deadline set by the ICC for the announcement has already passed raising questions and concerns. Some former players have even accused the PCB of not knowing what to do regarding the team selection. Delay in Squad Announcement Creates Concerns India’s squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy has already been announced and England was the first to reveal their lineup. However despite the ICCs deadline having expired the host nation Pakistan has yet to disclose their team. This delay has sparked confusion and speculation about the reasons behind it. The question on everyones mind is: Why is Pakistan taking so long to finalize their squad? Is there something the PCB is afraid of or is there a deeper issue causing this delay? Former Players Raise Concerns The delay in squad announcement has raised alarms among several people including former Pakistani cricketers. One such former cricketer Basit has expressed doubts about the PCB’s preparedness. He sarcastically questioned whether Pakistan is afraid to announce their team joking that the real issue might be uncertainty about what actions to take. According to him the delay could stem from confusion about the final squad composition. Sam Ayub’s Availability and Middle Order Concerns One of the major reasons for the delay is uncertainty regarding the availability of batsman Sam Ayub. His fitness and readiness to return to the team are still unclear which is holding up the final squad selection. Basit further pointed out that Pakistans middle order remains a critical concern as several players are expected to enter the tournament without prior experience in ICC events. Basit said I hope Im wrong but Pakistan’s problem lies in their middle order as they will be up against fast bowlers who bowl at speeds of 140 km/h. According to him Pakistan’s number 5 6 and 7 positions are still undecided which adds to the uncertainty surrounding the team. Possible Players for the Champions Trophy Squad In terms of potential squad members Basit suggested some names he believes could strengthen the team. He expressed his support for Saud Shakeel and raised concerns about whether Pakistan should include a T20 specialist like Khushdil Shah in the Champions Trophy squad. He argued that a player primarily suited for T20s might not be the best fit for such a prestigious tournament. He also mentioned that players like Tayyab Tahir Saud Shakeel and Kamran Ghulam have not played in ICC events which could be a disadvantage. Furthermore spin bowlers such as Sufiyan (Mukim) and Abrar (Ahmed) have also not featured in ICC events and Basit suggested that given these gaps Pakistan needs Shadab Khan as a spin all-rounder to provide the necessary balance to the squad. The uncertainty surrounding the Pakistan team’s selection for the Champions Trophy has led to growing concerns particularly about their middle order and the availability of key players like Sam Ayub. As the deadline passes and the squad remains undecided it remains to be seen how the PCB will address these issues and finalize their lineup for the upcoming tournament.