Complete Overhaul": What Went Wrong for Pakistan in the Champions Trophy .

 Complete Overhaul": What Went Wrong for Pakistan in the Champions Trophy

Defending champions and hosts Pakistan were eliminated in the group stage of the Champions Trophy. They suffered losses to New Zealand and their arch-rivals, India.

Pakistan's captain Mohammad Rizwan saw his team suffer a heavy defeat against India

Pakistan's captain Mohammad Rizwan saw his team suffer a heavy defeat against India. Although they still had one match left to play against Bangladesh, their Champions Trophy campaign was over, marking a disappointing end to their first time hosting a major international cricket event in 30 years.

Here’s a look at what went wrong for Pakistan in the 50-over tournament:

Rizwan became the white-ball captain in October of the previous year. Under his leadership, Pakistan won a 2-1 ODI series against world champions Australia, which was their first series win in 22 years in Australia. They also defeated Zimbabwe and gave South Africa their first-ever home whitewash with a 3-0 scoreline.

However, trouble started when rising opener Saim Ayub injured his ankle during a Test match in South Africa. Pakistan delayed announcing their Champions Trophy squad, hoping Ayub would recover, but he didn't make it in time.

To make matters worse, opener Fakhar Zaman was ruled out of the tournament after the first match, a 60-run loss to New Zealand, due to a muscle injury.

Pakistan's fast bowlers—Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf—looked rusty after being rested for the Test series. They struggled with controlling the death overs.

In another misstep, Pakistan’s selectors chose to include only one spinner, Abrar Ahmed, in the 15-man squad, despite calls for a second spinner. They instead relied on part-time spinners Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah, who only took one wicket between them in two matches.

Pakistan also took a risk by promoting out-of-form Babar Azam to partner Zaman as an opener. When Zaman was injured, they replaced him with Imam-ul-Haq, who managed just 10 runs in the crushing six-wicket defeat to India.

In an unexpected decision, they included all-rounders Khushdil and Faheem Ashraf in the squad based on their performances in Bangladesh’s T20 league. Ashraf hadn’t played an ODI for two years, and Khushdil hadn’t played one for three years. Some critics, including former captain Rashid Latif, called it a "political selection," blaming outside influences.

Shahid Afridi, another former Pakistan captain, criticized the team's outdated approach, saying, "In 2025, Pakistan was playing cricket like it was the 1980s and 1990s, while other teams have evolved to adopt a more aggressive style." He added that playing too many dot balls was another issue, pointing out that Pakistan played 152 dot balls against India while scoring 241 in 49.4 overs, including 28 balls with no runs in the first six overs. In their loss to New Zealand, their total of 260 in 47.2 overs had 162 dot balls.

Afridi believes the players' mindset was not aligned with modern-day cricket, and he called for a complete overhaul of the system to produce more aggressive players.

What Went Wrong for Pakistan in the Champions Trophy?

The 2025 Champions Trophy was a disappointing tournament for Pakistan, especially after they were eliminated in the group stages. As the defending champions and hosts, Pakistan had high hopes for the event. However, after two crushing defeats—one to New Zealand and another to their arch-rivals India—their campaign came to a heartbreaking end.

A Strong Start But Unforeseen Setbacks

Before the Champions Trophy, Pakistan had a promising record under captain Mohammad Rizwan. Since taking over as the white-ball captain in 2024, Rizwan led the team to an impressive 2-1 series victory against Australia, marking their first win on Australian soil in 22 years. They also dominated Zimbabwe and made history by whitewashing South Africa 3-0 on their home ground.

However, things started to fall apart once the team began preparations for the Champions Trophy. The injury of young opener Saim Ayub was one of the biggest setbacks. Ayub had been in great form, but a serious ankle injury during Pakistan’s Test series in South Africa ruled him out of the tournament. Although the team delayed the squad announcement, hoping for his recovery, Ayub was eventually left out.

To make matters worse, Fakhar Zaman, another key player, was also ruled out after the first match due to a muscle injury. This meant Pakistan had to rely on replacements, and their team dynamic started to lose its balance.

Struggles in Key Areas

Pakistan's pace attack, once considered one of their strongest weapons, also failed to perform. Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf, who had been rested during the Test series to keep them fresh, looked off their game. They couldn’t control the death overs effectively, which put extra pressure on the rest of the team.

The decision not to include a second specialist spinner also hurt Pakistan. Despite calls from former players and experts, the selectors stuck to just one spinner, Abrar Ahmed. They relied on part-time spinners like Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah, who couldn't deliver the required performance, taking just one wicket between them in two matches.

Another major issue was Pakistan's batting lineup. They took the risky step of promoting Babar Azam, one of their best players, to open the batting, even though he had been out of form. With Fakhar Zaman out, Imam-ul-Haq was brought in to replace him, but Imam’s performance was underwhelming, managing only 10 runs against India.

The Selection Controversy

The selection of all-rounders Khushdil Shah and Faheem Ashraf also raised eyebrows. Both players had been out of action in ODIs for quite some time, and their inclusion seemed more about their recent performances in Bangladesh's T20 league than their ODI form. Many experts, including former captain Rashid Latif, pointed out that these selections appeared political in nature, influenced by outside factors rather than merit.

Outdated Tactics and Mindset

One of the biggest criticisms came from former captain Shahid Afridi, who said that Pakistan's cricket tactics were outdated. He pointed out that Pakistan was still playing the same style of cricket from the 1980s and 1990s, while other teams had moved forward with a more aggressive and modern approach. Afridi emphasized that the Pakistani team’s tendency to play too many dot balls was a key issue. In their match against India, Pakistan faced a record number of 28 dot balls in the first six overs and ended with 152 dot balls in total while scoring just 241 in 49.4 overs.

The Need for a Change in Approach

Afridi believes that the team’s mindset does not align with the demands of modern-day cricket. He has called for a complete overhaul of the system, where young players are trained to adopt a more aggressive and attacking style of play. Pakistan’s failure in this Champions Trophy highlights the need for better planning, better fitness, and, most importantly, an evolved mindset if they are to compete at the highest level.

Conclusion: The Road Ahead

Pakistan's early exit from the Champions Trophy has raised many questions about their cricketing future. From injuries to poor selections and outdated tactics, it’s clear that there is much room for improvement. But with the right changes, a new approach, and a modern mindset, Pakistan can bounce back stronger in the future. It’s time for a fresh start and for Pakistan to embrace the evolving nature of international cricket.

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