LONDON: Experienced top-order batter Joe Root returned as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Sunday, announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, set to be hosted by Pakistan in the February-March window.
Root, who is a regular part of England’s Test side, has not featured in the shorter format since the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
The right-handed batter had an average outing in the mega event as he accumulated 276 runs in nine innings at an average of 30.66, including three half-centuries.
Besides him, white-ball captain Jos Buttler also made his return to the ODI side since England’s lacklustre campaign in the mega event.
Meanwhile, dynamic all-rounder Ben Stokes was not considered for selection due to a hamstring injury, which he sustained during the third Test of the recently-concluded away series against New Zealand.
Notably, prior to the eight-team tournament, the squad will tour India for a three-match each T20I and ODI series.
The T20I series is scheduled to run from January 22 to 28, followed by three crucial ODIs, set to take place on February 6, 9 and 12, respectively.
Left-arm pacer Reece Topley, along with all-rounders Sam Curran and Will Jacks were the notable absentees from both squads.
England squad for T20 series in India:
Jos Buttler (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood
England squad for ODI series in India and Champions Trophy:
Jos Buttler (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood.
Sohail Imran Sohail Imran is a senior reporter for Geo News.- Joe Root
