Pakistan Cricket Under Fire: Poor Form Raises Concerns for Champions Trophy 2025

Date: February 14, 2025

Venue: National Stadium, Karachi

Result: New Zealand won by 5 wickets

Champions Trophy Concerns: Pakistan’s Future in Doubt

The poor performance against New Zealand has put serious doubts against Pakistan's performance in the upcoming Champions Trophy. The team selection, finishing, and decision-making have not been regarded in a positive manner. Equally important, the two matches against New Zealand on February 19 and India on February 23 are instrumental in testing Pakistan’s form before the mega event.

Expert Opinions on Pakistan’s Performance

Sports analyst Abdul Ghaffar analyzed the loss to New Zealand and had the following to say:

“I never imagined Pakistan losing the match so brutally. Hence, we were expecting a much greater fight from Pakistan after they beat South Africa. The manner in which some players like Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Tayyab Tahir, and Khushdil Shah were dismissed demonstrates how fragile the batting line-up is. And New Zealand does not need to work very hard to secure wickets. Pakistan gifts them wickets.”

Fan Reactions and Social Media

Fans were disappointed with Pakistan’s selection and did not understand the logic behind not having a dependable finisher or second spinner.

There is growing criticism, especially on social media, where many have termed Pakistan's strategy in this series as ‘unprepared’, especially with the high-pressure Champions Trophy matches coming up.

Sharpened selection and combination blunders, moreover, have made it difficult for Pakistan, as they have been unable to gather pace in the tournament.

Pakistan's Struggles

Several players are singled out for their failures, including:

• Babar Azam: He did not help the team win despite his great performance.
• Saud Shakeel: Repeated losses are observed.
• Mohammad Rizwan: Although he achieved a decent score in a past match, his last innings of 40 runs while facing 76 balls is seen as underwhelming in terms of the strike rate.
• Salman Ali Agha: His 45 runs off 65 balls are also seen as too slow.
• Fakhar Zaman: In the series, he performed well but could not score big in the finals.

Key Takeaways from the Match

• ✔ Selection Problems of Pakistan: Even before the Champions Trophy, the selection committee gets a lot of blame. Were the chosen players appropriate? This concern is important when they have not been able to win important matches.
• ✔ Babar Azam Has Not Been Playing Well: As an opener, Babar Azam did not succeed in all three matches, causing worries about his position.
• ✔ Pakistan performed less than average in all aspects of the game: Batting, bowling, and fielding were not up to the mark, which resulted in an embarrassing defeat.
• ✔ New Zealand Reigns Supremely: Within a span of four days, the Kiwis conquered Pakistan on two separate occasions, which clearly shows their prowess.

Can Pakistan Bounce Back Before the Champions Trophy?

Despite the many obstacles New Zealand and India present, Pakistan still has an opportunity to build confidence. It is important to note that if Pakistan’s selection blunders and middle-order problems persist, they may encounter serious issues in the Champions Trophy.

What do you think? Can Pakistan turn things around before the tournament? Share your thoughts in the comments!