LAHORE: Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan has acknowledged that the team fell short of the nation’s expectations in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, attributing their struggles to injuries and inconsistent performances.
Pakistan’s winless campaign ended after their final group-stage match against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain, confirming their early exit from the tournament following defeats against India and New Zealand.
Rizwan’s Key Takeaways from the Tournament
- Injuries Disrupted Squad Combination:
- The unavailability of young opener Saim Ayub and experienced batter Fakhar Zaman impacted Pakistan’s team balance.
- However, Rizwan refused to use injuries as an excuse, stating, “As a leader, you have to look ahead. There are other players in the squad, and we must not use injuries as an excuse.”
- Admitting the Team’s Poor Performance:
- Rizwan conceded that Pakistan’s performance in recent weeks has been below expectations.
- “The nation has high expectations from us, and we failed to meet them,” he admitted.
- Lessons for Future Tournaments:
- Pakistan will analyze their mistakes and focus on improvement before the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand next month.
- “We are here for the entire nation, and we must accept that we haven’t performed well,” Rizwan said, promising a strong comeback in future tournaments.
Pakistan’s early exit has drawn criticism from fans and cricket experts, raising concerns over team selection, strategy, and overall performance. The upcoming series against New Zealand will be a crucial opportunity for the team to rebuild confidence and address their shortcomings.
