Pakistan’s journey in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 came to an abrupt end as New Zealand’s victory over Bangladesh sealed their fate.

The national team, having already suffered defeats against India and New Zealand in the group stage, was officially eliminated from the tournament on just the sixth day of competition.

The deciding blow came at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where New Zealand defeated Bangladesh by five wickets, securing their place in the semi-finals alongside India.

As a result, both Pakistan and Bangladesh bowed out of the tournament from Group A.

A disastrous campaign

Pakistan’s campaign began with a 60-run defeat to New Zealand at Karachi’s National Stadium.

The team then faced India in Dubai, where Virat Kohli’s masterful batting steered the arch-rivals to a comfortable six-wicket victory, further diminishing Pakistan’s hopes.

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Throughout the tournament, Pakistan’s weaknesses were brutally exposed. The batting lineup crumbled under pressure, the bowlers failed to make an impact, and the fielding woes persisted, with several dropped catches adding to their misery.

Surprisingly, just before the Champions Trophy, Pakistan had set a record by successfully chasing their highest-ever target in an ODI against South Africa during a tri-series.

However, the same team failed to learn from its mistakes and went on to suffer three consecutive defeats against New Zealand, raising concerns about their ability to perform under pressure.

Criticism mounts

Pakistan’s early exit triggered a wave of criticism from former players, cricket experts, and fans alike. Many called for sweeping changes in the squad and management.

Legendary fast bowler and former captain Wasim Akram, speaking on a sports channel, lamented Pakistan’s consistent failures in white-ball cricket.

He emphasised the need for bold decisions, suggesting that five to six players should be replaced immediately.

“We’ve been losing with the same players for too long. It’s time for a drastic shake-up. If we want to prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup, we need to start rebuilding now,” Akram said.

Former Test opener Ahmed Shehzad went even further, accusing a group of six to eight players of forming internal cliques that undermine the team.

“There’s no merit in domestic cricket anymore, and selections are influenced by favouritism rather than performance. The PCB chairman promised a ‘surgery’ within the team, but all they did was scapegoat two players and sack a selector,” Shehzad criticised.