Pakistan’s winless campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 ended in disappointment after their final group-stage fixture against Bangladesh was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to incessant rain at Rawalpindi on Thursday.
With both teams already eliminated from the semi-final race, the match held little significance beyond salvaging pride.
The heavy downpour left the ground drenched, with covers in place throughout and puddles forming across the field.
As the conditions failed to improve, match officials called off the game nearly two hours after its scheduled start, preventing even the toss from taking place.
This marked the second fixture in Rawalpindi to be washed out, following the abandonment of the South Africa-Australia encounter earlier in the tournament.
As a result, both Pakistan and Bangladesh shared one point each but ended their respective campaigns winless.
Pakistan, who were hosting an ICC tournament for the first time in 29 years, had entered the competition with high hopes but suffered consecutive defeats to New Zealand and India, ultimately sealing their early exit.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan admitted the squad failed to meet expectations.
“We wanted to do well and perform well in front of our nation. The expectations are very high. We didn’t perform well, and it is disappointing for us,” Rizwan said.
‘Too much pressure against India’
Assistant coach Azhar Mahmood attributed Pakistan’s underwhelming campaign to injuries and the team’s inability to handle pressure, particularly in their high-profile clash against India.
“We haven’t played well in this tournament. We have played good cricket in this format, but in the tournament it has not gone well because of injuries. Against India, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves,” Mahmood said.
“We know where we need to improve. It is all about adapting and taking responsibility. The results have also been a surprise for us,” he added.
Pakistan’s campaign was further hindered by the loss of key players Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub to injuries.
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Rizwan acknowledged the setback but refused to use it as an excuse.
“The guy who has been performing from the last few months in Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe... the team was combined and then suddenly when someone is injured, the team will be disturbed,” he said.
“As a captain, you can look forward to that as well. One side you can say that the team is disturbed, but this is no excuse. Yes, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub were injured, but we will learn from this,” Rizwan added.
The skipper also sought to reassure fans that the team remained committed to improvement.
“We are all very disappointed. We are all here for the nation. Pakistan is our priority, and the expectation from us is very high. We are upset and we are accepting that we didn’t do well. Hopefully, we will do more hard work and come back,” he said.
Pakistan will now look ahead to their tour of New Zealand, where Rizwan hopes the team can rectify their mistakes.
Bangladesh reflect on missed opportunities
Bangladesh, who also bowed out of the tournament without a win, will return home with much to ponder after suffering defeats to India and New Zealand.
“I am very disappointed. We really wanted to play this match, but can’t do anything about the weather. The way we held the game for long periods was very inspiring for us in the two matches,” Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said.
Expressing optimism about Bangladesh’s bowling attack, Shanto remarked, “We have always struggled with our fast bowling unit, but in the last few years, a lot of fast bowlers are coming through. Some of the fast bowlers back home are doing very well. The likes of Taskin, Rana coming in. Fizz is there. We have a very good bowling attack. I hope they will do the job and do the best for the team.”
With Pakistan and Bangladesh exiting the tournament without a single victory, the focus now shifts to the semi-finalists as the competition progresses.
Also read: Only losses for Pakistan this Champions Trophy
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