Pakistan’s disappointing exit from the 2025 Champions Trophy, especially as the host nation, has triggered a wave of criticism. Former Indian cricketer Parthiv Patel shared his disbelief at Pakistan’s early elimination in the group stages. He pointed out that the team currently seems to lack a clear strategy for winning major tournaments, which has affected their performance on the international stage.
After facing consecutive losses to New Zealand and India in Group A, Pakistan became the first team to be sent home from the tournament. Their fate was sealed when New Zealand’s victory over Bangladesh secured semi-final spots for both India and New Zealand, leaving Pakistan alongside Bangladesh out of the competition. This outcome has sparked discussions about the capabilities of the team led by Mohammad Rizwan and raised questions about the effectiveness of their coaching staff.
In an analysis on Cricbuzz, Patel remarked that Pakistan’s place in the tournament resulted from their host status rather than their competitive ranking. He indicated that this situation highlights a worrying trend in Pakistan cricket, which has a storied history but has fallen behind in recent years. According to him, issues like a weak domestic structure and instability within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have hindered the national team’s performance.
“I didn’t expect Pakistan to be out so soon. Their cricket isn’t in good shape, and they don’t have a squad that can win tournaments right now,” Patel noted.
He further explained, “Pakistan was not among the top eight in the rankings, so their qualification was solely because they were hosting. This indicates the state of cricket in Pakistan today.”
Another former India player, Dinesh Karthik, echoed Patel’s concerns during the same discussion. He pointed out ongoing internal conflicts within the Pakistan team, suggesting that these issues have reflected poorly on their performances during matches. Pakistan’s struggles under pressure, along with inconsistent team selections and frequent changes in the coaching setup, have contributed to yet another disappointing tournament for the team.
Karthik remarked, “They need to consider making some tough decisions, even if it means moving on from some senior players. However, it’s hard to gauge the real talent available in Pakistan right now, given the turmoil within the cricket board with constant coaching and selection changes. This makes it tough for any player to find their footing.”
For Pakistan, failing to advance beyond the group stage in their first ICC tournament at home in nearly three decades comes as a significant embarrassment and has led to speculation about the future of head coach Aaqib Javed, who may face dismissal just months into his role. Moreover, Pakistan joins a disheartening group of defending champions that have exited the Champions Trophy in the group stages.
Entering the tournament with aspirations to defend their title, Pakistan stumbled right from their opening match against New Zealand. Centuries from Tom Latham and Will Young helped New Zealand amass 320 runs, exposing weaknesses in the Pakistani lineup. Things worsened when Fakhar Zaman was injured, and their cautious approach in chasing the target left them short.
The match against India became a must-win, but Pakistan struggled again. They set a modest target of 241, and their bowling attack couldn’t penetrate India’s batting. Virat Kohli’s impressive innings sealed the victory for India in just 44 overs, definitively marking Pakistan’s exit from the tournament. New Zealand’s win over Bangladesh confirmed the semi-final draw, leaving Pakistan grappling with yet another ICC disappointment.
