The Team Gets Disturbed: Mohammad Rizwan Reveals Major Reason Behind Pakistan’s Champions Trophy Debacle
Pakistan’s Top Performers, Now a Worried Lot
Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, which was expected to be a dominant force, instead ended in disarray after their final group stage fixture against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to persistent rain on Thursday. The team’s aspirations of reaching the semi-finals were already dashed after defeats to New Zealand and India, leaving them at the bottom of Group A with just a single point.
What Went Wrong for Pakistan?
Reflecting on the campaign, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan pointed to injuries to key players as a significant factor in the team’s struggles. The absence of vital top-order batsmen like Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman particularly disrupted the team’s balance, causing "The team gets disturbed".
"We wanted to do well and perform in front of our nation. The expectations were very high, but we didn’t perform well, and it is disappointing for us," Rizwan admitted, highlighting the period of stability in the team’s performance prior to the untimely injuries. "The guy who has been performing for the last few months in Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe… the team was settled, and then suddenly when someone is injured, the team gets disturbed."
A Need for Improvement
Despite the setbacks, Rizwan refused to use the injuries as an excuse. "Yes, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub were injured, but we will learn from this," he said, emphasizing the importance of learning from past mistakes.
Ayub, who played a crucial role in Pakistan’s ODI series wins in Australia and South Africa last year, was ruled out due to an ankle injury during the Proteas Test series, while Zaman suffered an oblique muscle strain in the opening match against New Zealand, further weakening Pakistan’s top order.
Rizwan’s Thoughts on Strength and Improvement
When asked about the strength of Pakistan’s bench, Rizwan acknowledged that improvements were needed, particularly at the domestic level. "We want improvements in different areas. If we want to raise Pakistan’s standards, we need awareness and professionalism. We see that in the Champions Cup, but we need more improvement," he remarked.
Looking Ahead to New Zealand Tour
With Pakistan set to tour New Zealand for a five-match T20I and three-ODI series starting March 16, Rizwan stressed the importance of bouncing back. "We have made mistakes in the last few games. Hopefully, we can learn from them," he said. "We are next going to New Zealand, and hopefully, we can perform there. The mistakes we made against New Zealand here in Pakistan, we will learn from them and do better in New Zealand."
Summary:
Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign has come to an end, with their final group stage fixture against Bangladesh being abandoned due to rain. Captain Mohammad Rizwan has attributed the team’s struggles to injuries to key players, particularly Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman. Rizwan has emphasized the need for improvement, both individually and at the domestic level. With a tour of New Zealand upcoming, Pakistan will hope to learn from their mistakes and return to form.
Additional Resources:
- ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India rest & reset ahead of New Zealand clash
- Champions Trophy: How good is Virat Kohli in football? | Rishabh Pant recovers from viral
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