Dismal display

Pakistan’s cricket team put up an amateurish display in the final of the 2025 Pakistan Tri-Nation series against New Zealand on Friday (February 14), failing to meet international standards. The root cause of this poor performance lies in flawed team selection. The team lacks regular openers, with Fakhar Zaman being the only specialist. Babar Azam, pushed into an opening role, played too cautiously, increasing the pressure on himself and his partner. A skilled opener like Imam-ul-Haq or Sharjeel Khan or Usman Khan, with a strong average and strike rate, should have been included. Moreover, retaining players like Saud Shakeel, Khushdil Shah and Faheem Ashraf – who struggle under international cricket’s pressures – has further weakened the squad. Despite playing on a batting-friendly pitch, the team barely managed 250 runs, an underwhelming performance. The selectors must take responsibility for these poor choices and rethink their approach if Pakistan is to compete during the upcoming champions trophy.

Niaz Khan Toru

Islamabad