Lack of Aggression and Tactical Missteps Lead to Pakistan’s Early Departure from ICC Tournament
The expectations were sky-high for Pakistan as the team stepped onto home soil for its first ICC tournament since the 1996 World Cup. As defending champions, they were hopeful of a strong campaign. However, a mere six days into the competition, Mohammad Rizwan’s side saw its journey come to an abrupt and disappointing end.
While injuries to key players such as Saim Ayub (before the tournament) and Fakhar Zaman (in the opening match) did disrupt the squad, they were not the sole reasons behind Pakistan’s premature exit. Instead, a combination of conservative batting, lack of depth in the lineup, and questionable strategic decisions played a more significant role in their downfall.
The losses to New Zealand and India followed a similar pattern, with Pakistan’s batters struggling to impose themselves on the game. Chasing a challenging 321 against the Kiwis, the team stumbled to 22 for two in the initial Power Play and never found the momentum to recover.
A slightly better start against India raised hopes, but the innings soon stagnated. In an attempt to pick up the scoring rate, Pakistan lost wickets in quick succession, resulting in a below-par total. The team’s failure to rotate the strike was glaring, as they played more than 50% of their deliveries as dot balls (162 and 152 dot balls against New Zealand and India, respectively), without compensating with enough boundary shots.
One of Pakistan’s key weaknesses was its limited batting firepower. Apart from players like Salman Ali Agha and Fakhar Zaman, few in the squad possessed the ability to play expansive strokes consistently. Selection choices further compounded the problem, with questionable decisions such as including Imam-ul-Haq—who was not initially in the squad—over Usman Khan for the crucial match against India. Usman, despite being named in the final 15, has yet to make his ODI debut, raising concerns about the team’s planning and strategy.
Ahead of their must-win clash against their arch-rivals, there was much talk about Pakistan’s historical ability to rise to the occasion in do-or-die scenarios. Nostalgic references to the team’s golden era of the 1990s were prevalent, but the reality painted a different picture. Unlike teams such as England and India, which have adapted to the evolving nature of ODI cricket, Pakistan appears stuck in a rigid and outdated approach, reluctant to take the bold steps necessary to compete at the highest level. Even captain Mohammad Rizwan admitted that his team lacked the courage to play with freedom and aggression.
Adding to the concerns, Pakistan continues to lag behind top teams in fitness and fielding. During a practice session before the crucial India match, the lack of intensity was evident. While occasional fielding lapses in training are common, repeated errors and missed opportunities hinted at deeper issues. This translated into the game itself, as Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer capitalized on Pakistan’s sloppy fielding, making the team pay dearly for its mistakes.
Since their triumph in the 2017 Champions Trophy, Pakistan has failed to reach the semifinals of a major ICC ODI event (2019 and 2023 World Cups, and now the 2025 Champions Trophy). The trend underscores a dire need for a comprehensive restructuring of the system. Without a modernized approach, improved fitness standards, and a fearless mindset, Pakistan risks falling further behind the world’s best teams.
For a nation with a rich cricketing history, this latest failure serves as a wake-up call. The only way forward is a bold transformation—one that embraces change, prioritizes aggressive cricket, and fosters a culture of discipline and adaptability. Only then can Pakistan reclaim its place among cricket’s elite.
