Pakistan‘s Champions Trophy 2025 campaign ended in heartbreak as the defending champions were knocked out in the group stage following New Zealand’s victory over Bangladesh on Monday (February 24).
Pakistan’s early exit sealed after New Zealand’s win over Bangladesh
With this result, Pakistan had no mathematical chance of making it to the semi-finals, marking an abrupt end to their hopes of retaining the title they won in 2017 under Sarfaraz Ahmed. Pakistan’s journey in the tournament was filled with struggles, as they failed to win a single match in the group stage. Their campaign began with a 60-run loss to New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi, followed by a six-wicket defeat to India, where Virat Kohli‘s century and a dominant bowling performance exposed Pakistan’s vulnerabilities.
These consecutive defeats left them dependent on other results, but New Zealand’s win over Bangladesh ultimately confirmed their elimination. This early exit has led to heavy criticism from experts, former players, and fans, who are questioning Pakistan’s preparation, squad selection, and overall performance in the tournament.
Cricket experts analyze Pakistan’s disappointing performance
Following Pakistan’s elimination, several cricketing experts weighed in on their struggles. During the match between England and Afghanistan on Wednesday (February 26), veteran commentators Ian Bishop, Nasser Hussain and Ian Smith shared their thoughts on why Pakistan failed to make an impact in the Champions Trophy 2025. Bishop emphasized that Pakistan possesses some exciting young fast bowlers but lacks proper squad depth.
“They’ve got some good young fast bowlers around this country. Really good bowlers, got to groom them well. There’s hope, there is talent,” Bishop said during the commentary.
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Ian Bishop picks the batter who could revive Pakistan’s white-ball cricket
Former England captain Hussain highlighted the injuries to key openers Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman, which severely impacted Pakistan’s chances. Without reliable opening partnerships, Pakistan struggled to get solid starts in crucial matches, putting their middle order under pressure.
Bishop, however, responded by stressing that squad depth is key in modern-day cricket. He pointed out how New Zealand and India have successfully built strong reserve players, which allows them to remain competitive even when their first-choice players are unavailable. He also singled out Mohammad Haris as a potential game-changer for Pakistan’s white-ball cricket. He believes that Haris, despite his inconsistent performances, has the aggressive style that modern cricket demands and could be a valuable asset if developed properly.
“Even on that, Nasser, it’s strength in depth. That’s what New Zealand have going for them, for example, very well. It’s what India have going for them very well. There’s a young man called Mohammad Haris around Pakistan here, who I think…he’s inconsistent but he’s exactly what white-ball cricket needs. How can you build a guy like that?,” Bishop concluded.
Haris made his international debut in 2022 and has played six ODIs and nine T20Is. However, his performances so far have been underwhelming, with low averages of 7.5 in ODIs and 14 in T20Is. His most recent ODI appearance came against Sri Lanka in 2023, where he managed just three runs.