Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign came to an early end after New Zealand defeated Bangladesh in a crucial Group A match on February 24 in Rawalpindi. After waiting 29 years to host an ICC event, the hosts became the first team to get virtually eliminated after playing just two games.
Their performance in both matches, against New Zealand and India, lacked intent and aggression. Chasing a huge target of 320 against New Zealand, the Men in Green’s batting was too slow in the powerplay, scoring just 22 runs. Although Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah tried to bring them back into the game, their efforts were not enough.
Against India, Pakistan had a strong start but lost momentum in the middle overs due to sharp bowling from the Indian spinners. While the Greens struck 11 fours in 30 overs, India hit the same number of boundaries inside the powerplay, showing a big difference in approach. Even brilliant deliveries from Shaheen Afridi and Abrar Ahmed could not change the outcome of the game.
3 Reasons Why Pakistan Got Virtually Knocked Out of ICC Champions Trophy 2025
1. Lack of Aggression in Modern-Day ODI Cricket
ODI cricket has changed, with teams regularly scoring 350+ runs. However, Pakistan’s top order, including Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, often plays too many dot balls, putting pressure on the middle order.
ALSO READ The Ultimate Skipper: Unveiling the World’s Best Cricket Captain in History
Pakistan replaced Saim Ayub with Fakhar Zaman before the tournament, but Fakhar’s injury forced them to bring back Imam-ul-Haq, who is known for his slow starts. Without aggressive batting, Pakistan struggled against teams like New Zealand and India who follow an attacking batting approach.
2. Poor Team Selection – Only One Spinner in Spin-Friendly Conditions
Before the tournament, conditions in Pakistan and Dubai were expected to help spinners. However, Pakistan picked only one frontline spinner, Abrar Ahmed, while part-time spinners Khushdil Shah and Salman Ali Agha were chosen to support him.
Pakistan lacked a proper spin attack. The team could have picked Shadab Khan, who could contribute with both bat and ball.
ALSO READ ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule, Details, Venues, Groups, Bracket & more
3. Inconsistent Team Management and Selection
Pakistan’s cricket system has been unstable for years. In the past three years, they have had 26 selectors, four captains, and eight head coaches. This constant change has affected team planning and performance.
Former Pakistan players were not surprised by their early exit, as these problems have been present for a long time.
Pakistan now needs serious changes if they want to perform better in future ICC tournaments.
