ICC Champions Trophy 2017: Five Pakistan players to watch out for

Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 we look at five Pakistan players to watch out for - Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Mohammad Amir, Shadab Khan, Mohammd Hafeez
Shoaib Malik

In to his sixth Champions Trophy tournament appearance, Shoaib Malik, when in form is treat to watch and he has been in form recently. He also has been a steady performer for Pakistan in the CT scoring 326 runs and scalping 10 wickets. In the series against West Indies in April, Malik scored 163 runs in three matches.He will be batting at the crucial number five position and will have only Mohammad Hafeez as an experience campaigner in the otherwise young batting line-up.
Babar Azam

In just 26 ODIs, Babar Azam has made the number three position his own after stellar performances that saw his make three consecutive ODI hundreds against West Indies in the UAE in 2016, Against WI in April, Babar scored 153 runs in three match and before that against Australia, Azam was the lone bright spot reeling off scores of 33, 34, 84, 31, 100 to finish as the second highest run-getter in the series, only behind David Warner. A player with sound technique and calm temperament to bat long, Azam will look to build his stature with a solid performance in the Champions Trophy.
Mohammad Amir

Amir returns to England after the spot-fixing saga, and will be aiming to let his ball speak this time around. He has got his swing back, but still has not been as effective as he was before the ban. He has had a very muted comeback but has managed took takes wickets and has not been wayward recently. Against Australia, Amir picked up eight wickets at an economy of 5.73 and against West Indies he managed five wickets in three matches.
Shadab Khan

The 18-year-old legspinner was fast-tracked to the international circuit after good showing the 2016-17 Pakistan Super League, known to spin the ball big, Khan would be a potent weapon in the Champions Trophy. India and Sri Lanka are traditionally good players of spin, but during the IPL the wrist spinners rules the roost, and that could mean Khan being successful in his first big tournament. He has taken 10 wickets in four T20Is with seven coming in the first two earning his two consecutive Man-of-the-Match awards
Mohammad Hafeez

The 36-year-old, like Malik, is one of the few experienced players in the Pakistan line-up and the former skipper will have to be at his best both with the bat and the ball for Pakistan to progress in the tournament.