Rumman Raees Joins Pakistan Champions Squad for WCL 2025
Experienced left-arm pacer Rumman Raees has officially been added to the Pakistan Champions squad for the upcoming World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, set to begin later this month in the United Kingdom. This exciting inclusion reunites Raees with several of his former teammates from Pakistan’s 2017 Champions Trophy-winning side, bringing a wave of nostalgia and optimism to fans.
The move was confirmed on Sunday after Raees hinted at a comeback on social media, and it promises to bolster the Pakistan Champions with his bowling experience and enthusiasm. Earlier, Imad Waseem announced his comeback to national colors.
Rumman Raees Confirmed After a Nostalgic Tweet
Rumman Raees playfully sparked his WCL return on the social platform X (formerly Twitter) with a nostalgic message. Referencing the band of players from Pakistan’s 2017 Champions Trophy victory – including Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, “Maddy” (Imad Wasim), Wahab Riaz, and Sarfaraz Ahmed – Raees tweeted:
“Hafeez bhai, Shoaib bhai, Maddy, Wahab bhai aur Saifi bhai – if all the Champions Trophy 2017 guys are back together, then should I get my kit bag ready too?”. This lighthearted post, naming his former teammates (using friendly nicknames), implied he was eager to join them if they were all playing again.
The Pakistan Champions management wasted no time in responding. Team owner Kamil Khan, through the official Pakistan Champions social media, welcomed Rumman with an enthusiastic reply:
“Aajao Dost!! Team owner Kamil Khan welcomes Rumman Raees to the Pakistan Champions family 🤝🇵🇰 Let’s bring more fire to the roar 💚”. (“Aajao Dost” translates to “Come on, friend” in Urdu, conveying a warm invitation.)
This exchange confirmed Raees’s inclusion in the squad and was met with delight by fans, as the 33-year-old bowler’s return adds both sentimental value and depth to the team.
Rumman Raees Has a Wealth of T20 Experience
Rumman Raees brings considerable T20 cricket experience to the Pakistan Champions. At 33, he has played over 120 T20 matches in his career, taking 131 wickets at an average of 24.61 and an impressive economy rate of 7.53.
Rumman ability to contain runs and take wickets consistently made him a standout in domestic T20 leagues (including Pakistan’s PSL) and earned him a spot in Pakistan’s national side a few years ago. In fact, Raees represented Pakistan in 8 T20 Internationals, picking up 8 wickets with an economy of 7.63.
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Bowling Avg | Economy | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20Is | 8 | 8 | 27.37 | 7.63 | 3/49 |
| ODIs | 9 | 14 | 23.21 | 5.54 | 3/49 |
| T20 (All) | 120+ | 131 | 24.61 | 7.53 | 4/25 |
Many fans remember Rumman Raees for his contribution to Pakistan’s 2017 Champions Trophy campaign – he stepped in during the tournament and played his part in Pakistan’s path to the title. With that triumph now serving as inspiration, Raees’s presence in WCL 2025 is seen as a reunion of champions.
Raees left-arm swing and accuracy, combined with a cheerful personality, are expected to energize the squad. Team captain Mohammad Hafeez and other senior players have all played alongside Raees before, so his integration into the team should be seamless.
Pakistan Champions Squad for WCL 2025
The Pakistan Champions have assembled a star-studded lineup of former national cricketers for WCL 2025. The squad features many household names from Pakistan’s recent cricket history, under the leadership of Mohammad Hafeez who was appointed captain earlier this week. According to the official announcement, the Pakistan Champions squad includes the following players:
Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Rumman Raees, Imad Wasim, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Sharjeel Khan, Wahab Riaz, Asif Ali, Kamran Akmal, Aamer Yamin, Sohail Khan, and Sohail Tanvir.
This lineup balances batting firepower, bowling variety, and a wealth of experience. Many of these players have played together in the past, whether in international tournaments like the Champions Trophy or in domestic leagues, which bodes well for team chemistry.
Fans are particularly excited to see the reunion of the 2017 Champions Trophy core (Hafeez, Malik, Sarfaraz, Wahab, Imad, and now Rumman Raees) in this legends format. The team’s blend of big hitters, steady all-rounders, and seasoned bowlers makes Pakistan Champions a strong contender for the title.
WCL 2025 Tournament Overview
The World Championship of Legends 2025 (WCL 2025) is the second edition of an international T20 tournament that features retired or veteran cricket stars from six cricketing nations: Pakistan, India, Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies. Each team is branded as “[Country] Champions” and is composed of notable former players from that country.
The inaugural season was held in 2024, where India Champions emerged as the champions after defeating Pakistan Champions by 5 wickets in a thrilling final. The stage is now set for Season 2, and the competition is expected to be even more exciting as legends once again don their national colors for glory and fans get to relive old rivalries.
WCL 2025 complete schedule
League Stage
- July 18 (Friday): England Champions vs Pakistan Champions
- July 19 (Saturday): West Indies Champions vs South Africa Champions
- July 19 (Saturday): England Champions vs Australia Champions
- July 20 (Sunday): India Champions vs Pakistan Champions
- July 22 (Tuesday): England Champions vs West Indies Champions
- July 22 (Tuesday): India Champions vs South Africa Champions
- July 23 (Wednesday): Australia Champions vs West Indies Champions
- July 24 (Thursday): South Africa Champions vs England Champions
- July 25 (Friday): Pakistan Champions vs South Africa Champions
- July 26 (Saturday): India Champions vs Australia Champions
- July 26 (Saturday): Pakistan Champions vs West Indies Champions
- July 27 (Sunday): South Africa Champions vs Australia Champions
- July 27 (Sunday): India Champions vs England Champions
- July 29 (Tuesday): Australia Champions vs Pakistan Champions
- July 29 (Tuesday): India Champions vs West Indies Champions
Knockout Stage
August 2 (Saturday): Final (Edgbaston, Birmingham)
July 31 (Thursday): Semi-final 1 – SF1 vs SF4 (Edgbaston, Birmingham)
July 31 (Thursday): Semi-final 2 – SF2 vs SF3 (Edgbaston, Birmingham)
A Happy Reunion and Expectations
The addition of Rumman Raees has been met with a happy buzz among Pakistan cricket fans. It symbolizes a reunion of champions and beloved players coming together again for the love of the game. Raees’s jovial personality and memorable past performances (like his crucial role in the 2017 Champions Trophy semi-final) make him a fan-favorite.
His own excitement was evident in his social media hint, and now, as part of the squad, he’ll be keen to repay the faith with on-field performances.
Team owner Kamil Khan’s warm welcome and the presence of many of Raees’s former teammates create a feel-good story leading into the WCL. The Pakistan Champions will look to improve upon their runners-up finish from last year and aim for the trophy this time around.
With Mohammad Hafeez at the helm as captain and players like Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik providing veteran savvy, the team has a strong leadership group. Rumman Raees’s left-arm bowling will add variety to the attack that already includes Wahab Riaz and Sohail Tanvir – giving the team multiple pace options.
With a smile and determination, Rumman Raees is ready to roar again in Pakistan colors – and cricket fans couldn’t be happier to cheer him on.