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Pakistan’s early exit from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has sparked widespread criticism and concerns about the state of the national team. Consecutive defeats against New Zealand and India in Group A left Pakistan in a precarious position, and their elimination was confirmed after New Zealand’s five-wicket win over Bangladesh on February 24.
The disappointing campaign has led to calls for a major overhaul in the team, with former cricketers and analysts expressing their frustration. Among them, former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan has voiced his deep concern over the state of Pakistan cricket.
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Imran Khan’s Reaction to Pakistan’s Champions Trophy Exit
Imran Khan, speaking through his sister Aleema Khan after a visit to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, expressed his disappointment with Pakistan’s poor performance, particularly their defeat to India.
“The PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) founder expressed great sadness over losing the match against India,” Aleema said, as quoted by PTI news agency. She also revealed that the 1992 World Cup-winning captain watched the game from jail and was particularly disheartened by the team’s lackluster display.
Pakistan suffered a crushing six-wicket defeat to India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23. Virat Kohli’s composed century (100* off 111 balls) guided India to a comfortable chase of 241 with 45 balls to spare.
Imran also criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, expressing doubts over his leadership and the overall management of cricket affairs in the country.
“Cricket will eventually be destroyed when favourites are put in decision-making positions,” Aleema quoted Imran as saying, emphasizing the need for a merit-based system in cricket administration.
Former PCB Chief Najam Sethi’s Criticism
Adding fuel to the debate, former PCB chairman Najam Sethi blamed Imran Khan for Pakistan’s decline in cricket, attributing it to his controversial decisions during his tenure as Prime Minister.
Sethi pointed out that changes made to Pakistan’s domestic structure in 2019 under Imran’s leadership led to the downfall of the national team.
“The downfall started in 2019 when a new management under a new PM/Patron changed the domestic cricket structure that had served Pakistan reasonably well for decades and replaced it with an ill-suited Australian hybrid model,” Sethi tweeted.
He further accused the PCB of inconsistent policies, excessive political interference, and flawed team management, including frequent changes in coaches, selectors, and team mentors. According to Sethi, these factors led to internal conflicts within the squad, ultimately contributing to Pakistan’s dismal performance.
Pakistan’s Last Match in CT 2025
Although Pakistan is already eliminated from the tournament, they still have one game left to play. The Men in Green will take on Bangladesh in their final Group A fixture at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on February 27.
While the match is now a mere formality, Pakistan will be keen to salvage some pride with a win. However, the larger concerns surrounding Pakistan cricket’s structure, leadership, and player performances remain unresolved, raising serious questions about the future of the team.
