Pakistan’s hopes of making a mark in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 ended in disappointment as they failed to progress past the group stage despite hosting the tournament. Placed in a tough group alongside India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, Pakistan lost both of their first two matches, sealing their fate before the final group game.
Their first defeat came against New Zealand, where two of New Zealand’s batters scored centuries. New Zealand posted a challenging total of 320, while Pakistan’s batting faltered, managing only 260 runs, falling short by 60 runs. Pakistan’s bowling attack also failed to impress, unable to contain opposition batters or take crucial wickets at key moments.
In their second match against India, Pakistan set a modest target of 241. India chased it comfortably, thanks to a brilliant century from Virat Kohli. Pakistan’s batting lacked intent, with senior players Babar Azam and captain Mohammad Rizwan struggling to accelerate the innings.
With both India and New Zealand winning their first two matches against Pakistan and Bangladesh, they secured their spots in the semi-finals, making Pakistan’s final match against Bangladesh a mere formality.
This latest failure adds to Pakistan’s poor record in ICC tournaments in recent years. In the 2023 ICC World Cup held in India, they finished fifth in the group stage and missed out on the semi-finals. The disappointment continued in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where they were eliminated in the first round after a shocking loss to the USA.
With yet another ICC event ending in frustration, questions are being raised about the team’s approach. The lack of intent from senior players, low strike rates, and unimpressive bowling performances suggest deeper issues within the squad. Many experts and fans believe Pakistan should look beyond their experienced players and invest in young talent to rebuild the team for future tournaments.
While some may argue that Pakistan has simply been unlucky in recent ICC events, the consistent underperformance suggests a need for major changes. Moving on from older players and embracing a more aggressive, modern style of cricket could be the key to reviving their fortunes on the global stage. The coming months will be crucial in determining how Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and team management respond to this latest setback.
