Pakistan’s chances of making it to the Champions Trophy semifinals have taken a severe blow following a crushing six-wicket defeat against India in Dubai. This loss comes after a 60-run setback against New Zealand in their opening match, leaving the defending champions with an uphill battle.
With only one group-stage match remaining against Bangladesh, Pakistan’s qualification is now dependent on other results going their way. This scenario has become a recurring theme for Pakistan in recent ICC tournaments, a situation that captain Mohammad Rizwan is far from pleased with.
Rizwan Admits Pakistan’s Fate Is Out of Their Hands
“We can say for now that it is over. That is the truth,” Rizwan stated post-match. “We’ll see what Bangladesh does with New Zealand, then how New Zealand performs against India, and finally our own match. But it’s a long road, and we now rely on other teams.”
Expressing his dissatisfaction with the uncertainty, Rizwan added, “As a captain, I don’t like depending on others. If you are good enough, you prove it by winning and keeping things in your own hands. We don’t want to be waiting for other teams’ results. The reality is that both India and New Zealand played stronger cricket, and we didn’t perform well. If we get a chance to qualify, so be it.”
Pakistan’s Consistent Struggles in ICC White-Ball Events
Pakistan’s struggles in global tournaments continue, as they face potential early elimination for the third consecutive ICC white-ball event. Their fate will be sealed if New Zealand defeats Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Monday.
Having taken over as Pakistan’s white-ball captain last year, Rizwan has led the team to bilateral ODI series victories in Australia and South Africa. However, he expressed frustration over the repeated mistakes his team has made across multiple recent tournaments, including a tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, followed by their current campaign.
Rizwan’s Performance and Pakistan’s Batting Woes
Rizwan’s own batting performance—a sluggish 46 off 77 balls—has drawn scrutiny, much like Babar Azam’s innings in the opening loss. Although Rizwan attempted to accelerate later in the innings, his dismissal, along with two other quick wickets in the middle overs, derailed Pakistan’s momentum.
“When you lose, it’s obviously disappointing, and difficult questions arise,” Rizwan said. “We made mistakes in all three departments, which is why we lost today.”
Pakistan had aimed for a target of 270-280, considering the slow pitch and outfield conditions. “Saud Shakeel and I were building a partnership, but our shot selection let us down. This gave India a chance to take crucial wickets and put pressure on our middle order. We’ve been repeating these mistakes over the last four games, and despite working on them, they persist,” Rizwan admitted.
Missing Key Players and Limited Spin Options
Pakistan’s batting limitations were evident even before the tournament started. The team suffered setbacks with Saim Ayub’s fractured ankle and Fakhar Zaman’s early injury in the opening game, leaving Pakistan dependent on Imam-ul-Haq, a player with a vastly different batting approach.
Additionally, Pakistan’s squad selection raised questions regarding their spin options. Abrar Ahmed has been the sole specialist spinner, yet Rizwan defended the team composition, stating, “In ODIs, you can’t go in with five genuine bowlers. The best we had, the selectors picked—Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah. If we included another specialist spinner, we would have had to drop a batter, which isn’t a viable strategy in ODIs.”
What’s Next for Pakistan?
Pakistan’s chances of progressing now rest on external factors, a situation Rizwan clearly dislikes. As they prepare for their final group match against Bangladesh, the team must reflect on its performances and address persistent weaknesses to avoid another early exit from an ICC tournament. With squad limitations and recurring issues in batting and fielding, Pakistan faces an uphill battle to regain its footing on the global stage.