Following the team’s brutal loss against arch-rivals India in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 mega showdown in Dubai on Sunday, former Pakistan captain and famous batter Javed Miandad attacked the national cricketers.
After the game, Miandad questioned the players over their professionalism and capacity to excel in high-stakes contests instead of assigning responsibility to the system or selectors.
“It is futile accusing all that, selectors, and the system. Are these chosen players lacking in anything, then? Does the PCB not look after them? Are they paid insufficient? Where then is the fire and professionalism to compete in major events and games? Passion? MIand asked.
He kept criticizing the national cricket players, alleging pressure on them even before the intense clash started.
“The reality is, our players felt pressure even before the game started. Look at their body language; none of them seemed to be in a position to dominate Indian bowlers.
For the uninitiated, hosts and incumbent champions Pakistan suffered a group-stage exit from the continuous eight-team tournament following New Zealand’s denial of any possibility for a comeback by guaranteeing a complete victory against Bangladesh on Monday.
Starting their defense against New Zealand in the inaugural match of the tournament on February 19 in Karachi, the green shirts—who won the esteemed title in 2017 under the guidance of wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed—suffered a 60-run loss.
Inspired by a combined bowling effort and stellar century by Virat Kohli, Pakistan then endured a six-wicket humiliation at the hands of arch-rivals India.
Notably, Pakistan will play Bangladesh in their last group-stage game on February 27 in Rawalpindi even though they were eliminated from the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals race.
