Former Pakistan cricketer Inzamam Ul Haq has expressed his disappointment with the national team’s lackluster performance against India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match in Dubai. Inzamam Ul Haq criticized both the team and the selection committee, calling for a serious review of Pakistan’s strategy in major ICC events.
The former chief selector Inzamam Ul Haq lamented Pakistan’s inability to perform on big occasions, stating that the team struggles under pressure and collapses when it matters most.
Pakistan Team are on the brink of elimination from Champions Trophy 2025 after losses from New Zealand and India
It was a night to forget for Mohammed Rizwan and his Pakistan team after their loss to India in the Champions Trophy 2025 match. Pakistan lost the game against India by six wickets and that drew massive reactions from fans. With two consecutive losses, Pakistan are all but knocked out of the mega event.
Virat Kohli’s 51st ODI century led India to a six-wicket win over Pakistan in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Chasing 242 runs, India reached the target with 45 balls to spare, thanks to a crucial 114-run partnership between Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, who scored 56 runs. Kohli finished unbeaten on 100 off 111 balls.
Pakistan had set the target after being bowled out for 241, with Saud Shakeel top-scoring at 62. Kuldeep Yadav was the standout bowler for India, taking three wickets. India’s strong performance keeps them on track for the tournament title
It is a big setback for the hosts to become the first team to be knocked out of the semi-final race. Pakistan still have a game against Bangladesh , which they need to win with a huge margin but its look unlikely as Pakistan themselves have lost to New Zealand by 60 runs and Bangladesh beating New Zealand seems a distant possibility
Pakistan lost the game against India by six wickets and that drew massive reactions from fans. Not just fans, even plaudits slammed the Men in Green for their shambolic show. Former Pakistan player and selector Inzamam Ul Haq expressed disappointment with the Pakistan cricket team’s performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, criticising the players and selection committee for repeated failures in major tournaments.
Former captain Inzamam Ul Haq takes a sarcastic dig at Pakistan after 2025 Champions Trophy loss to India
Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has sarcastically lauded the selection committee’s brilliance following their Champions Trophy 2025 loss to Team India on Sunday, February 23. The former right-handed batter said he is puzzled by how the selection committee has picked the squad without a backup spinner and making Babar Azam open.
Pakistan are on the brink of being eliminated from the eight-team tournament after their second straight defeat. Having lost to New Zealand by 60 runs in their opening game, the Men in Green suffered a six-wicket defeat to India, putting the qualification chances out of their hands. Hence, they will need a miracle to sneak into the semi-finals.
In a video uploaded on social media, Inzamam Ul Haq claimed, as quoted by CricketPakistan.pk:
“Of the eight teams, seven have at least one regular spinner. You selected only one spinner for the entire squad, and that’s a mistake. How can you play without a backup in subcontinent conditions? You’re making Babar open and forcing Fakhar to do the same, even though he hasn’t opened for Pakistan in three years. Your number three batter has had his position changed. This selection deserves applause for its brilliance.”
Babar Azam, who has a brilliant record at No. 3, was promoted up the order following Saim Ayub’s ankle injury. He opened with Saud Shakeel against New Zealand and laboured to 64 off 90 balls while making 23 against India. With Fakhar Zaman injured, the selectors recalled Imam-ul-Haq, who opened the innings with Babar and made only 10 before being run-out.
Inzamam-ul-Haq’s scathing review of Pakistan’s performance
Inzamam Ul Haq also lamented the lack of fight from Mohammad Rizwan and Co. and observed that the result was clear against India, a few overs before the end, just like against New Zealand. The 54-year-old stated:
“We need to review the players’ performances again. This is not the first tournament where we’ve struggled. I’m not just talking about bilateral series; I mean ICC events like the Asia Cup, World Cup, and T20 World Cup.
“We lost this match poorly, but there has been no visible improvement in any area. The same bowlers are playing without changing their line or length. Even against New Zealand, our match was practically over before the end. In this match, too, the result was clear well before the final overs.”
New Zealand beats Bangladesh to put an end to the Champions Trophy 2025 journey for Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Chasing a target of 237 runs, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham and Michael Bracewell led New Zealand to beat Bangladesh by 5 wickets in the Group A match of the ICC Champions Trophy on Sunday.
For New Zealand, Rachin Ravindra scored his maiden CT century in 95 deliveries and went back to pavilion after scoring 112 runs. Tom Latham scored 55 important runs, while Devon Convoy hit 30 runs. For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman and Rishad Hossain picked one wicket each.
Earlier, batting first, Bangladesh scored 236/9 against New Zealand. Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 77 runs, while Jaker Ali posted 45 runs. New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell picked four wickets, Will O’Rourke took two wickets. While Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson clinched one wicket each.
With two wins, India have already set a foot in the last four. With this win, New Zealand have book their semi final seat and play their next Group A match with India on March 2 at Dubai with Pakistan the hosts and Bangladesh becomes the first two teams to get eliminated from the ICC Champions Trophy 205.
Pakistan are set to face Bangladesh in their final group game on Thursday, February 27 which sadly now remains a mere formality as both India and New Zealand qualified for the semi finals of Champions Trophy 2025. The hopes of this match for Pakistan now just remains the matter of fact of testing their bench strength as both India and New Zealand are qualified for the semi finals of Champions Trophy 2025.