Pakistan’s parliament is due to address the country's abysmal showing in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which saw the national cricket team crashing out in the first round, with just one point from two defeats and a wash-out.
Pakistan were not only the defending champions but also hosting a global ICC event for the first time since 1996. But the celebrations were short-lived as the team lost to New Zealand in the opener and then India slumped to India in Dubai. Their last league game against Bangladesh was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to bad weather on Thursday.
The abject surrender of the team has let the whole nation down and we are going to address the failure in the national parliament in the coming days.
The chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board Mohsin Naqvi has also come under severe pressure as he is blamed to have readied the three venues for the tournament but has failed to get the team ready.
The selection of the squad has come under question from experts and the accountability committee is likely to summon Naqvi to explain what went wrong with the team.
Naqvi is also country’s interior minister and has special backing from the country’s strong establishment.
The ruling party, the Muslim League (Nawaz Group), is against Naqvi holding two key posts and want him to leave either of them. Naqvi is reluctant to leave the PCB job as it has more exposure and limelight, said sources.
The Committee is also likely to summon captain Mohammad Rizwan and head coach Aaqib Javed as both have failed in their duties..
Cricket-crazy Pakistan has seen interest in the game dropping to the lowest level after the national team crashed out of the Champions Trophy in the preliminary round itself.
Fans were seen outside the Rawalpindi Stadium trying to sell tickets for Pakistan’s last match against Bangladesh at the venue on Thursday.
I don’t want to go to watch the match but no one is ready to buy the tickets, even at half the price. The disgusting performance has left everyone embarrassed, we are down in the dumps in cricket.
Fans had bought costly tickets of the semifinal and final in anticipation of Pakistan qualifying for the last two stages. “I think neither the Pakistan team will be in the final nor the final will be in Pakistan,” said another cricket entuziast Hashmat Ullah.
In case India qualify for the March 9 final, it will take place in Dubai. Otherwise it will be held in Lahore. The venue of the final will only be decided after the first semifinal in Dubai in which India play against the Group B number two team.
With Pakistan out of contention, the local advertising companies are pulling out of their deals and have stopped advertising on media. Angry fans have stoned hoardings carrying advertisement of a cellular company with star batter Babar Azam as model in some cities. Babar failed to inspire the team to victory in the two matches after he was promoted to open the innings.
