Pakistan’s performance in the 2025 Champions Trophy was disappointing, as they were eliminated early after losing to New Zealand and India. Their match against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain, leaving both teams without a victory. Captain Mohammad Rizwan and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood expressed their disappointment and emphasized the need to learn from mistakes for future matches.
The Pakistan cricket team had a disappointing start to the 2025 Champions Trophy, suffering defeats against New Zealand and India, which promptly eliminated them from semifinal contention. Rain caused their match against Bangladesh to be abandoned without a ball being bowled, compounding their winless run. As hosts of the ICC tournament for the first time in 29 years, expectations were high, yet Pakistan concluded their campaign without securing a victory.
Persistent rain led to the ground being unplayable, with match officials calling off the match two hours past the scheduled start time. Both Pakistan and Bangladesh ended the tournament without a win, sharing one point from the abandoned match. This marks the second match in Rawalpindi to be cancelled due to rain, frustrating local fans eager for action.
Captain Mohammad Rizwan acknowledged the team’s failure to meet high expectations. “We wanted to do well and perform well in front of our nation. The expectations are very high. We didn’t perform well and it is disappointing for us,” he stated. He expressed hope that lessons from these mistakes would facilitate better performance in future matches, notably during their upcoming tour to New Zealand.
Assistant coach Azhar Mahmood attributed the team’s subpar performance to injuries and pressure, especially in the face-off against India. He remarked, “We know where we need to improve… the results have also been a surprise for us.” Furthermore, he urged fans to continue having faith in the players as they strive to improve.
The injuries of key players like Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub had notably disrupted team dynamics. Rizwan emphasized the need to learn from these setbacks. While acknowledging the disturbances caused by injuries, he insisted there are no excuses for their performance. “We are all very disappointed. Pakistan is our priority and the expectation from us is very high,” he concluded his remarks.
On the other hand, Bangladesh’s skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto echoed sentiments of disappointment due to the weather’s interference. He articulated his frustration, stating, “I am very disappointed. We really wanted to play this match, but cannot do anything about the weather.” He expressed hope for future success and improvements in their bowling unit, highlighting the emergence of new talent.
The Pakistan cricket team faced a challenging start to the 2025 Champions Trophy, failing to secure any victories and being eliminated early. Rain affected their final match, leaving them with shared points with Bangladesh without playing. Both captain Mohammad Rizwan and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood conveyed disappointment and aspirations for future improvement, stressing the need to adapt and learn from their experiences. Meanwhile, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto also reflected on missed opportunities and the hope of developing a stronger squad going forward.
Original Source: sports.ndtv.com
