Mohammad Rizwan seems to be on, Pakistan vs India, Dubai, Champions Trophy, February 23, 2025. — ICC
KARACHI: Title-holders and hosts Pakistan crashed out within the group section of the Champions Trophy after shedding to New Zealand and arch-rivals India.
They nonetheless have a match to play, towards Bangladesh on Thursday, however their match is over — a disappointing finish to their first internet hosting of a serious worldwide cricket occasion in three a long time.
AFP Sport seems to be at the place all of it went fallacious for Mohammad Rizwan’s males within the 50-over match:
Unsure build-up
Rizwan was appointed white-ball skipper in October final yr and led Pakistan to a powerful 2-1 ODI win over world champions Australia — their first collection victory in 22 years within the nation.
In addition they received in Zimbabwe and inflicted on South Africa their first house whitewash, with a 3-0 scoreline.
However fast-rising opener Saim Ayub injured his ankle throughout a subsequent Check in South Africa.
Pakistan delayed the announcement of their Champions Trophy squad till the deadline to attend on Ayub’s health however the left-hander didn’t get well.
So as to add to the house crew’s woes, fellow opener Fakhar Zaman was dominated out of the remainder of the match after the primary match — a 60-run defeat to New Zealand — with a muscle damage.
Inexperienced Shirts’s much-vaunted tempo assault of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf — rested from the Check collection to maintain them recent — appeared rusty and failed to manage the loss of life overs.
Poor squad choice
Selectors resisted calls from former gamers and pundits to incorporate a second spinner within the 15-man squad and as a substitute selected just one in Abrar Ahmed.
They relied on part-time spinners Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah, who’ve managed only one wicket between them in two matches.
Pakistan additionally erred by not deciding on an everyday opener and took the dangerous step of selling out-of-form Babar Azam to companion Zaman.
When Zaman was dominated out they introduced in Imam-ul-Haq as a alternative. He made simply 10 as Pakistan had been crushed by title favourites India by six wickets.
In a shock transfer they included within the squad all-rounders Khushdil and Faheem Ashraf on the idea of their performances in Bangladesh’s Twenty20 league.
Ashraf had not performed an ODI for 2 years and Khushdil for 3.
Former captain and tv pundit Rashid Latif known as it a “political selection”, blaming outdoors affect.
Previous-style cricket
Former skipper and standard all-rounder Shahid Afridi accused Pakistan of enjoying outdated cricket.
“In 2025 Pakistan was playing the cricket style of the 1980s and 1990s while other teams had progressed well to adopt an aggressive and modern style,” he advised AFP.
“The ailment of playing too many dot balls also hurt our game.”
Pakistan performed 152 dot balls towards India in scoring 241 in 49.4 overs, together with a report 28 balls with no scores within the first six overs.
Their whole of 260 in 47.2 overs within the defeat to New Zealand had 162 dot balls.
“The mindset of Pakistan players does not match with modern-day cricket,” mentioned Afridi.
“We need a complete overhaul of the system so that we can produce players with an aggressive mindset.”
