Pakistan’s Early Champions Trophy Exit Triggers Criticism and Calls for PCB Overhaul
Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the Champions Trophy 2025 has not only drawn widespread criticism against the players but has also placed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi under intense scrutiny. Calls for his removal have emerged following Pakistan’s early exit from the tournament, which was the first International Cricket Council (ICC) event hosted in the country in 29 years.
Opposition Demands Accountability
Speaking to the media, National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub blamed the PCB for the team’s failure and demanded Naqvi’s removal, citing “repeated failures.”
The demand comes after Pakistan’s poor performance, losing the opening match to New Zealand in Karachi and then suffering a six-wicket defeat to India in Dubai on February 23. Pakistan’s qualification hopes hinged on other teams’ results, but New Zealand’s victory over Bangladesh on Monday sealed Pakistan’s fate, eliminating them from the tournament.
The team will now play a dead rubber against Bangladesh on February 27 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan’s Recurring Failures in Mega Events
This early exit is not an isolated event. Pakistan has struggled in major ICC tournaments in recent years:
- ODI World Cup 2023: Won only four out of nine matches, finishing fifth in the points table.
- T20 World Cup 2024: Knocked out in the group stage, losing to India and the United States.
Key Factors Behind Pakistan’s Poor Performance
Pakistan’s failure in the Champions Trophy 2025 was not merely due to bad luck but rather a combination of multiple issues:
1. Uncertainty in Team Selection
- Mohammad Rizwan was appointed as white-ball captain in October 2024 and led the team to historic wins against Australia and South Africa.
- Opener Saim Ayub suffered an ankle injury, delaying the squad announcement until the deadline.
- Fakhar Zaman was ruled out after the first match due to a muscle injury, leaving Pakistan without a solid opening pair.
- The much-vaunted pace trio of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf, who were rested before the tournament, appeared rusty and struggled, especially in the death overs.
2. Poor Team Selection & Lack of Spinners
- Pakistan’s selectors ignored calls to include a second frontline spinner in the 15-man squad, relying instead on part-time spinners Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah, who collectively took just one wicket in two matches.
- The decision to promote Babar Azam—who has struggled for form—to open the innings backfired, leaving the top order unstable.
- Pakistan included Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah based on their performances in Bangladesh’s T20 league, despite Ashraf not having played an ODI in two years and Khushdil in three years.
- Former captain Rashid Latif criticized the selections as “political”, citing outside interference.
3. Obsolete Approach to Modern Cricket
- Shahid Afridi criticized Pakistan for playing an outdated style of cricket, saying,
“Pakistan was playing the cricket style of the 1980s and 1990s while other teams have adapted to an aggressive and modern style.” - The Men in Green played too many dot balls, severely affecting their scoring rate:
- Against India: 152 dot balls out of 241 runs.
- Against New Zealand: 162 dot balls in a total of 260 runs.
- Afridi called for a complete system overhaul to produce players with a modern, aggressive mindset.
What’s Next for Pakistan Cricket?
With another major failure, pressure is mounting on PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the selectors to revamp the team structure. Calls for new leadership, strategic planning, and adopting a modern playing style are growing louder.
Pakistan’s next challenge will be the T20 World Cup 2026, where they must reassess their strategy to regain their status in international cricket.
