Pakistan’s dismal performance in the 2025 Champions Trophy has left cricket fans in shock and despair, with the national team finishing their home campaign at the bottom of the group table without securing a single win.
akistan’s dismal performance in the 2025 Champions Trophy has left cricket fans in shock and despair, with the national team finishing their home campaign at the bottom of the group table without securing a single win.
The team’s final match against Bangladesh, which had no bearing on the tournament’s outcome, was washed out by rain on Thursday at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. This result sealed Pakistan’s fate, leaving them in last place, below even Bangladesh.
A nightmare for
Pakistan Fans
The rain that washed out the final match symbolized Pakistan’s entire campaign - one marked by disappointment and frustration.
The hosts, playing on home soil for the first time since 1996, were unable to win a single match, leaving their supporters dejected. Despite the final match being inconsequential, the fact that Pakistan failed to claim a victory on home turf only deepened the disappointment for fans.
The team’s poor form included a heartbreaking six-wicket loss to arch-rivals India, a must-win match after they had already lost to New Zealand. These defeats sealed Pakistan’s exit from the tournament, leaving them unable to live up to their defending champions’ status. Bangladesh, who were also eliminated, finished with just one point, sharing Pakistan’s fate.
Aqib Javed Accepts Responsibility for Failures
Following the disastrous campaign, Pakistan’s head coach, Aqib Javed, whose contract ended with the Champions Trophy, took full responsibility for the team’s lackluster performance. “There are no excuses in life... there shouldn’t be,” Javed told the press. “It’s my responsibility.”
The mounting pressure on Javed was inevitable after the team’s disappointing results, particularly the loss to India. He acknowledged that the players struggled with the pressure and lacked the necessary experience.
Javed also criticized the team for not capitalizing on favorable batting conditions. “We didn’t put up a big score on pitches where scores over 300 are the norm. Our star players failed to deliver,” he said. He also highlighted the need for consistency at all levels, further underlining the challenges posed by instability within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). “You need to have consistency at the top, and ensure that long-term policies are in place,” he added.
Early Exit from the Tournament
Pakistan’s hopes of progressing were dashed after their defeat to India on February 23, confirming their early exit from the group stage. Despite being the defending champions, Pakistan’s performance fell well short of expectations, leading to a crushing blow for their cricketing ambitions. The loss to India, coupled with the opening defeat to New Zealand, meant Pakistan had no chance of advancing further.
Mohammad Rizwan, who was appointed Pakistan’s white-ball captain in October 2024, had previously led the team to a series win over world champions Australia and victories against Zimbabwe and South Africa. However, his leadership failed to inspire Pakistan to success in the Champions Trophy, as they faltered in both key matches.
Selection
Controversies
Pakistan’s team selections came under intense scrutiny during the tournament. Despite widespread calls for the inclusion of a second specialist spinner, the selectors opted to stick with just one regular spinner, Abrar Ahmed. They also turned to part-time spinners Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah.
While Khushdil Shah played a key innings against New Zealand, he was unable to guide Pakistan to victory, leaving fans disillusioned. Additionally, Pakistan’s batting failed to show the intent seen in other teams playing modern cricket in the ongoing Champions Trophy. The team’s bowling, too, failed to learn from past mistakes in the Tri-Nation series, leading to poor performances.
In their defeats to India and New Zealand, Pakistan’s inability to rotate the strike and score freely was a major issue. In the match against India, Pakistan played 152 dot balls, and in the loss to New Zealand, they faced 162 dot balls. Their inability to maintain a strong scoring rate was a key factor behind their early exit.
Pakistan’s outdated approach to modern cricket was another point of contention. Many former players, including pacer Shaheen Afridi, expressed frustration with the team’s mindset, which they felt did not align with contemporary cricket. Afridi criticized the players for failing to embrace the aggressive approach needed in modern-day cricket. “The mindset of Pakistan players does not match with modern-day cricket,” he said. “We need a complete overhaul of the system to produce players with an aggressive mindset.”
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif even suggested that the selections were politically motivated, sparking further controversy.
As Pakistan reflects on its painful exit from the Champions Trophy, the need for a complete overhaul of its cricketing system has never been clearer. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) must take swift action to address the underlying issues within the team, including a shift in mindset and strategy. Without significant changes, Pakistan’s cricketing future will continue to look bleak, leaving fans frustrated and yearning for a return to the success they once enjoyed.
The lessons learned from this disappointing campaign will be crucial if Pakistan is to rebuild and compete at the highest level once again.
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