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Champions Trophy (Photograph: X)
International Cricket Council (ICC) has ignored the much and talked about ‘Fab Five’ batters in a special list ahead of Champions Trophy 2025. Cricket’s Apex Body has released the name of five batters to look out for during the upcoming eight-nation tournament. India’s Shreyas Iyer has been named along with Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman.
The other three names in the list are that of Kiwi star Daryl Mitchell, England opener Ben Duckett, and South African powerhouse Heinrich Klaasen. The five batters named in the list have had been terrific form with the bat in recent times.
Indian batter Shreyas Iyer has made a terrific return to the side after he was dropped post a disappointing Sri Lanka tour. The 30-year-old made his return to international cricket in a grand style by scoring 181 runs from three matches in the recent series against England. Iyer, hit two fifties with the best of 78 coming in the final match in Ahmedabad.
Fakhar Zaman and Ben Duckett headline power-packed list
English opener Ben Duckett has been in rich vein of form in the white-ball format. The 30-year-old scored 131 runs during the recent series in India. So far, Duckett has played 19 ODI matches scoring 831 runs with an average of 46 and strike rate of 102. The left-handed batter has also hit two centuries and six half-centuries.
Fakhar Zaman grabbed headlines with his powerful ton in the 2017 Champions Trophy final against India. The veteran opening batter made a powerful return to the team and showed his class with the bat during the recently held tri-series. Fakhar Zaman scored 135 from three games with an average of 45. It is to be noted that Fakhar Zaman is only double centurion for Pakistan in ODI Cricket and has scored 3627 runs from 85 matches.
New Zealand star Daryl Mitchell was one of the best batters for his side during the 2023 ODI World Cup. The 33-year-old scored 148 runs with two half-centuries during the recent tri-series in Pakistan. Mitchell was the fifth best run scorer for New Zealand in 2023 World Cup with 552 runs from 10 matches with an average of 69. The veteran star also hit two tons and two fifties with a best of 134 that came in the semis against India.
Heinrich Klaasen has been giving nightmare to bowlers due to his brilliant stroke play. The 33-year-old played just one match in the tri-series tournament but made an instant impact. Klaasen scored 87 runs in the game against Pakistan and helped his side amass a massive 352 on the board. The veteran star nearly pulled off a great chase during the 2024 T20 World Cup final against India. So far, Klaasen has played 58 ODI matches scoring 2974 runs with four centuries and 10 fifties. The 33-year-old has an average of 44 and strike rate off 117 with a high boundary count.