We Didn’t Perform Well, and It is Disappointing for Us: Mohammad Rizwan after Pakistan’s Campaign Ended in Champions Trophy 2025
A Disappointing Finish in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan has expressed his disappointment after the team’s campaign in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 ended in disarray. Despite high expectations, Pakistan failed to make it to the semi-finals, finishing at the bottom of Group A with just a solitary point.
A Campaign Marred by Injuries
Pakistan’s campaign was severely dented by the injuries to key players Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman. Ayub, who was ruled out of the tournament due to an ankle injury, played a crucial role in Pakistan’s ODI series wins in Australia and South Africa last year. Zaman, on the other hand, picked up an oblique muscle strain in the opener against New Zealand and was forced to sit out the remainder of the tournament.
Rizwan’s Verdict: A Disappointing Campaign
"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," Rizwan was quoted as saying. "The guy who has been performing for the last few months in Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe… the team was combined and then suddenly when someone is injured, the team will be disturbed," he added.
Lessons Learnt, but Further Improvements Needed
Rizwan acknowledged that the team’s balance was disturbed by the injuries, but refused to use it as an excuse. "As a captain, you can look forward to that as well. One side you can say that the team is disturbed, but this is no excuse. Yes, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub were injured, but we will learn from this," he emphasized.
Looking Ahead to New Zealand Tour
Pakistan will next tour New Zealand for a five-match T20I and three-ODI series, starting March 16. Rizwan conceded that the team had made mistakes in the last few games and would need to learn from them. "We have made mistakes in the last few games. Hopefully, we can learn from these. We are next going to New Zealand and hopefully we can perform there and the mistakes that we made against New Zealand here in Pakistan, we can learn from that. And we will do better in New Zealand," he concluded.
The Way Forward: Improving the Domestic Circuit
Rizwan also touched upon the need for further improvements in the domestic circuit. "We want improvements in different things. If we want to improve, and for Pakistan to have a high standard, we need awareness and professionalism. We see that in the Champions Cup, but we need more improvement," he noted.
The Verdict: A Disappointing Finish, But a New Beginning
While Pakistan’s campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has ended in disappointment, Rizwan’s words offer a glimmer of hope for the future. With a new tour in New Zealand looming, the team will look to regroup and bounce back stronger. As Rizwan said, "We will learn from our mistakes and come back stronger."
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