Champions Trophy: From Dhawan and Zaman to Amir and Junaid, the team of the tournament

Following the completion of the Champions Trophy on Sunday with Pakistan triumphant, Paul Radley makes his assessment of the team of the tournament.

Shikhar Dhawan. Getty Images

1 Shikhar Dhawan (India)

Born to play in the Champions Trophy, apparently. The left-hander finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer for the second successive time. His haul of 338 was less than he managed four years earlier, but still 34 better than the next best, Rohit Sharma.

2 Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan)

Wow. What an arrival. His first series in one-day international cricket finished with the match award in the final after he savaged Ravi Ashwin and the rest of India’s gilded bowling attack. Quite the return, given he said only intensive physiotherapy got him onto the field for the game.

3 Virat Kohli (India)

Mohammed Amir may have found some kryptonite in the final, but it is usually in short supply otherwise when the Indian superman is at the crease. Averaged 129 for the tournament, and scored at nearly a run a ball. Gracious in defeat, too, which is no small thing.

4 Eoin Morgan (England)

Morgan aggregated less runs than Joe Root, England’s new Test match captain, over the course of the home side’s run to the semi-final. But the Irishman’s innings of 87 against Australia’s potent attack was a leader’s effort that was key to bringing about victory.

5 Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)

The left-handed all-rounder was dominant partner in arguably Bangladesh’s finest ever international partnership. His 114, in a dapper alliance worth 224 with Mahmudullah Riad, set up the win over New Zealand that took them through to a first semi-final at a major global event.

6 Ben Stokes (England)

Stokes does not really need to lay down any markers to Australia ahead of this winter’s Ashes. He scored his first ton for England in Australia, was integral to England regaining the urn last time out, and was an outstanding teammate of Steve Smith, the Australia captain in the IPL. Still, he did anyway, as he scored a decisive century to send the Aussies out.

7 Sarfraz Ahmed (Pakistan, captain)

His first significant assignment since taking the 50 over reins from Azhar Ali was an unforeseen and unqualified success. An upbeat demeanour as captain, a reliable presence behind the stumps, and arguably Pakistan’s most important presence in their batting line up, too.

8 Mark Wood (England)

Right back to his best after two lots of ankle surgery, as Hashim Amla, David Warner, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson will attest. He dismissed each of them in succession. England’s fast bowler needs to be wrapped in a nice comfy duvet and told to relax before the winter’s Ashes.

9 Mohammed Amir (Pakistan)

Batsmen win matches, bowlers win tournaments. So said Azhar Mahmood, Pakistan’s bowling coach, on the eve of the final. Cue Amir. Fit again after missing the semi-final, he trampled all over India’s hopes of chasing by dismissing Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan.

10 Hasan Ali (Pakistan)

Managed to arrive in the UK under the radar, despite being a consistent high achiever for both Pakistan and Peshawar Zalmi for some while now. Next time out, he will be a not-even-remotely secret weapon for Pakistan, as the defining figure in Pakistan’s trophy win.

11 Junaid Khan (Pakistan)

Not even in the side at the tournament’s start. Then Wahab Riaz suffered injury heaped on insult, and Junaid was invited back. It was quite the career revival. He took eight wickets in the four matches he played. Only Hasan Ali and Josh Hazlewood managed more.​

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