Pakistan faced a crushing defeat against India in the Champions Trophy 2025. With this loss, they are almost out of the tournament. This was their first ICC event at home in 29 years, but they failed to deliver. The team’s performance has left fans disappointed.
- Pakistan lacked a stable opening pair.
- The pace attack underperformed.
- The team did not select a quality spinner.
1. Weak Opening Pair
Pakistan’s opening combination was unstable. Saim Ayub was ruled out due to injury, and Abdullah Shafique was dropped because of poor form. This forced Babar Azam to open, a position where he lacks experience.
Another setback was Fakhar Zaman’s injury, which led to Imam-ul-Haq opening. Both Babar and Imam struggled to score quickly, which hurt Pakistan in crucial games.
Stats Comparison:
| Opener | Runs | Strike-Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Babar Azam | 175 | 76 |
| Imam-Ul-Haq | 3148 | 85 |
Babar’s slow strike rate (76) limited Pakistan’s ability to chase big totals. Imam has also never maintained a strike rate over 90, making it tough to set strong starts.
2. Underperforming Pace Attack
Pakistan has world-class pacers like Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah. However, they failed to deliver in the Champions Trophy 2025.
- Pakistan leaked 300+ runs in their first match.
- They failed to defend 243 runs against India.
- Each pacer took only two wickets in two matches.
Pace bowling, once Pakistan’s strength, became a weakness in this tournament. The team could not contain runs or take wickets at crucial moments.
3. Lack of a Quality Spinner
Pakistan made a huge mistake by not selecting an in-form spinner alongside Abrar Ahmed. The pitches in Dubai and Pakistan favor spin bowlers, yet the team relied mostly on pacers.
What Went Wrong?
- They ignored Sufiyan Muqeem, a promising young spinner.
- Dubai’s conditions require spin-friendly strategies.
- Other teams used spinners effectively, while Pakistan struggled.
Had Pakistan included a quality spinner, they might have controlled the middle overs better. This miscalculation contributed to their early exit.
Pakistan’s early elimination from the Champions Trophy 2025 was due to poor team decisions. A weak opening pair, an ineffective pace attack, and a lack of spinners cost them crucial matches. The team must rethink its strategy for future tournaments.
Why Pakistan Failed: A Quick Recap
Pakistan must now rebuild and make smarter decisions for future tournaments. With better planning, they can return stronger in the next ICC events.
Check out the Champions Trophy Stats
