For Pakistan, it was a Champions Trophy 2025 to forget. Against New Zealand, the tournament’s curtain-raiser, they lost by 60 runs in their opening group-stage encounter. Pakistan’s suffering was increased when they lost to India, their bitter rivals, by a crushing six wickets. The bad weather forced them to postpone their match against Bangladesh in the league phase. After hosting an ICC tournament for the first time in 29 years, Pakistan ultimately lost and was eliminated.
Kamran Akmal, a former Pakistani batsman and wicketkeeper, blasted Pakistan for their poor performances in the just finished 50-over competition. Additionally, he considered the post-match ceremony following the summit match to be a humiliating experience for the host country’s delegation.
“When our complete teams visit our nation, we are unable to defeat D teams. You only gain respect and are good when your team performs well and wins. It was embarrassing during the [post-match] ceremony, according to the scenes that followed the final. Since our goal was to host the event, which we accomplished and it was a success, we are unable to do this. However, playing superb cricket also earns you respect. The reason we are being ridiculed is because we placed seventh. Nobody spoke about Pakistan or the quality of the tournament (when it was held there) during the ceremony, Kamran said on his YouTube channel.
We weren’t worthy, thus the chairwoman didn’t show up: Kamran Akmal.
The former cricket player went into further detail about what transpired at the aforementioned post-match ceremony in order to vent his fury.
“World Cricket and the ICC have shown us the mirror regarding our performance and the fact that we were not represented at the Champions Trophy final. Although the chairperson was absent and ill, the tournament director was present and could have attended the ceremony. Why didn’t he attend? We didn’t deserve him, so he didn’t arrive. Our performance has been subpar for the past five or six years due to the way we have played,” Kamran continued.
Next, Pakistan will go to New Zealand for three ODIs and five T20Is. On Sunday, March 16, the white-ball series is expected to start.
India
