Cricket fans in Pakistan had been waiting for this moment for nearly three decades—a chance to see their team defend the ICC Champions Trophy on home soil. The excitement was unreal. The hope? Even bigger. But in just a matter of days, those hopes were shattered.
Back-to-back losses against New Zealand and India meant Pakistan was shown the exit door before the tournament even picked up steam. And just like that, the dream of lifting a trophy at home was over.
The Harsh Reality Check
After the humbling defeat to India, Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan didn’t sugarcoat anything. His brutal assessment summed up the state of Pakistan cricket—a team that once ruled world cricket was now struggling to stay relevant.
Let’s be honest. Pakistan cricket is at its lowest point in history. The nation has been waiting for it’s next ICC trophy since winning the 2017 Champions Trophy.
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What’s worse than not winning is that Champions Trophy 2025 is the third consecutive event where Pakistan have crashed out of the group stage, with ODI World Cup 2023 and T20 World Cup 2024 being the previous ones. That’s three major ICC tournaments gone without a fight.
A Celebration That Never Took Off
This tournament was supposed to be a celebration of Pakistan cricket. The PCB spent millions renovating stadiums to bring the Champions Trophy home. But what good is hosting a grand event if your team can’t even make it past the first round?
In cricket, a tournament is only exciting when the home team does well. The buzz, the energy, the passion—it lasts longer when the hosts go deep into the competition. But now, all that excitement has vanished into thin air.
Pakistan didn’t just lose; they lost badly. Their cricket felt outdated, almost stuck in the past while the rest of the world moved forward.
Selections were a mess. Saim Ayub was ruled out, Fakhar Zaman got injured—but that’s no excuse. Every team faces injuries. Good teams adapt. Pakistan, however, looked clueless.
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What’s Next for Pakistan Cricket?
The writing is on the wall. Something needs to change, and fast.
The PCB must shift its focus from just organizing tournaments to actually building a competitive team. Spending money on stadiums is great, but if the team isn’t performing, what’s the point?
Pakistan cricket fans are tired of waiting. Since 2017, they haven’t seen a single ICC trophy. Every tournament brings new hope, only to end in disappointment.
If Pakistan wants to return to its glory days, the time for excuses is over. It’s time for action. The nation deserves better.
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