Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign has come to an unceremonious end, as their fate was sealed following Bangladesh’s loss to New Zealand. With India and New Zealand progressing from Group A, Pakistan—once the tournament’s defending champions—now find themselves on the outside looking in, left to reflect on missed opportunities and recurring mistakes that cost them a shot at glory.
The Fallout from a Bitter Defeat
A tournament that began with high hopes ended in heartbreak, with Pakistan’s loss to arch-rivals India proving to be the final nail in the coffin. Skipper Mohammad Rizwan didn’t shy away from acknowledging the shortcomings in the post-match press conference, lamenting the same mistakes that have plagued the team in crucial encounters.
“All three departments have made mistakes. That’s why we are losing the match,” Rizwan admitted candidly. “Maybe they were more brave than us. And that’s why they got this result.”
Pakistan’s performance against India followed a familiar script—batters failing to accelerate in the middle overs, key wickets falling at inopportune moments, and a bowling attack that couldn’t apply the necessary pressure when defending a below-par total. A 104-run stand between Rizwan and Saud Shakeel offered some stability, but their lack of urgency in scoring left Pakistan with only 241 on the board—nowhere near enough to challenge India’s formidable batting lineup. The Men in Blue chased down the target with six wickets in hand and 45 balls to spare, exposing Pakistan’s vulnerabilities yet again.
A Recurring Theme of Disappointment
This exit is particularly disheartening given Pakistan’s status as hosts. The tournament was meant to be a celebration of cricket returning to Pakistan on the grandest stage, a chance to relive the triumph of 2017 when they stunned the world by winning their maiden Champions Trophy. Instead, the campaign has ended with more questions than answers.
Pakistan’s struggles in the group stage were evident from the outset. A loss to New Zealand had already put them on the back foot, and their inability to correct their course against India only compounded their problems. Even before Bangladesh’s match against New Zealand sealed Pakistan’s fate, it was clear that qualification was slipping from their grasp.
Where Does Pakistan Go From Here?
With their Champions Trophy journey over, Pakistan must now shift focus to long-term rebuilding. This tournament has reaffirmed that small lapses—whether in shot selection, fielding errors, or conservative tactics—can be the difference between winning and losing at the highest level. Rizwan himself acknowledged the need for braver cricket, but that intent must be translated into action if Pakistan wants to reclaim its place among the world’s best teams.
The questions now facing Pakistan cricket go beyond this tournament. Is the current team setup built for success in modern ODI cricket? Are the selections reflecting the aggressive brand of cricket needed to compete with the likes of India and New Zealand? And, perhaps most importantly, how will this team move forward with a fresh mindset rather than repeating the same mistakes?
As the dust settles on a disappointing Champions Trophy campaign, the only certainty is that Pakistan cricket must evolve. The fans, the players, and the management must take this as a moment of reckoning. For now, the dream of lifting another ICC trophy will have to wait, but the journey toward redemption must begin immediately.
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