Sadness and who requests for wholesale changes swallowed the mad cricket Pakistan after the hosts collapsed from the champions trophy in the group phase, barely a week to celebrate the return of a major tournament.
The titles of titles lost their opening match against New Zealand by 60 points in Karachi on Wednesday, before the defeat of Sunday at six counters against the Archriaves of India pushed them on the edge of an early outing.
Pakistan needed Bangladesh to beat New Zealand on Monday to keep their thin hope from a place in the semi-finals alive, but the result went in the other direction.
Thursday’s match with Bangladesh in Rawalpindi was reduced to a dead ruin match.
“We have been supporting these players for a few years, but they are not learning or improving,” former Captain Wasim Akram told the AFP news agency.
“It is time for a major upheaval. We need to improve our domestic cricket system so that we can produce quality cricket players, not ordinary crickets. »»
A lack of competitiveness in domestic cricket and low -quality locations has been blamed not to prepare players for the international scene.
Sport in Pakistan is also retained by frequent changes to the Cricket Board of Directors, coaches teams and selection panels, according to criticism.
These changes are motivated by politics and not merit, according to observers.
“I feel very discouraged with the state of Pakistani cricket,” said former Captain Rashid Latif.
“We must follow the merit and bring in the administration of the game and not people on a political basis.
“The frequent changes in Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the selection committee and the captains failed us to form an appropriate configuration and team.”
Early elimination weakens a country that had attracted the organization of its first major cricket tournament in 29 years, after significant security improvements.
Former Pakistani and popular popular captain Shahid Afridi accused Pakistan of having played obsolete cricket.
“In 2025, Pakistan played the 1980s and 1990 cricket style while other teams had progressed well to adopt an aggressive and modern style,” he said.
“We need a complete overhaul of the system so that we can produce players with an aggressive state of mind.”
“Cricket died in Pakistan”
“We were delighted that an international event was finally returned to our country, but the joy was short -lived,” said Umar Siraj, 26, a pharmacist in Rawalpindi.
“The most difficult part to be a fan of Pakistan is that you end up praying that other teams lose,” he glea. “It’s painful. I am emptied.
The Pakistan champions flop is not new. They also crushed the ODI 2023 World Cup in the first round in India.
It was followed by their release at the same stage of the Twenty20 World Cup in the United States and the Antilles last year – a tournament won by the neighbors of India.
Pakistan last month finished ninth and last in the world test championship after shooting a series at home with the Antilles.
The last debacle, and on the floor at home, represents a new hollow.
“It is disappointing that they have not even managed to fight,” said Naseem Satti, an employee of the 46 -year -old government.
“We have no quality of quality, no reliable passers and it seems that cricket is dead in Pakistan.”
Asma Batool, a 52 -year -old housewife, stressed exactly what cricket means for the inhabitants of Pakistan.
“Cricket is the only source of entertainment for our young people,” she said.
“Our nation finds comfort in this game.”
Injuries, bad shape treats mortal blows
Mohammad Ricewan was appointed Pakistani skipper in white ball in October and led Pakistan to an impressive 2-1 Odi victory against the Australian world champions – their first series victory in 22 years in the country.
They also won in Zimbabwe and inflicted on South Africa their first home at home, with a score of 3-0.
However, the fast -height opener, Saim Ayub, was injured in an ankle during a later test in South Africa and Pakistan delayed the announcement of their team of the Champions Trophy until the deadline To wait for Ayub’s physical condition, even if the left -hander failed to recover.
To add to the misfortunes of the team at home, his compatriot Fakhar Zaman was excluded from the rest of the tournament after the first match – a defeat of 60 points against New Zealand – with muscle injury.
The attack of rhythm very tuned by Pakistan of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf – rested in the series of tests to keep them cool – looked rusty and did not manage to control the dead.
When Zaman was excluded, the team replaced the Imam-ul-haq as a replacement. He only made 10 because Pakistan was crushed by the favorites of the Title India by six counters.
In a surprise decision, they included in the versatile of the Khushdil Shah and Faheem Ashraf team based on their performances in the Bangladesh Twenty20 league. Ashraf had not played Odi for two years and Khushdil for three.
Latif described these choices as “political selection”, blaming external influence.
Fans blaming “the state of mind of the losers”
For fans, the loss against India has brought a now familiar grief.
Moiz Umer, owner of a coffee in Karachi, said that customers had asked him to change the television channel to “avoid humiliation” to see their defeat of the Champions Trophy against India.
“For large parts of the Indian sleeves, a good number of people turned to the match – facing their friends instead of the screen, such was the disappointment,” said the 45 -year -old man in the city from Karachi.
Fans who have not diverted their eyes have seen India surpass Pakistan for the second time in eight months in an ICC event, after their confrontation in the ICC T20 World Cup.
“It was such a big match and we went down with a groan,” said Zain Mursaleen, 42, among a hundred spectators with a deflated mood who had gathered to watch the match in Karachi.
“We like to see the right cricket and Pakistan failed to produce this – again.”
In the Garrison City adjacent to the capital Islamabad, the atmosphere was dark from the start before the striker of India, Virat Kohli, struck 100 undefeated.
“They came to the match with a loser’s mindset and never tried to attack,” said chief Rasheed Saleem, 53. “I doubt that they even realize how much it is discouraging for fans to see them descend like that.”
