Pakistan’s humiliating run and early elimination from the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025, it seems, have not only invited widespread criticism from fans and the cricket fraternity but also raised eyebrows in Islamabad.
“The prime minister will personally take notice and we will also ask him to raise these [cricket-related] issues in the cabinet as well as in parliament,” PM Shehbaz Sharif’s aide on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah said while speaking on local TV show on Thursday.
The politician’s remarks come against the backdrop of the dismal performance showcased by the Mohammad Rizwan-led side — also the defending champions — in the first International Cricket Council (ICC) tournament hosted by the country in nearly three decades.
During the tournament, the Green Shirts suffered back-to-back defeats against New Zealand and arch-rivals India. The national side will face Bangladesh today in Rawalpindi — the match, however, has been reduced to a dead rubber as both teams have already been knocked out.
With fans left utterly dejected, interim head coach Aqib Javed has defended the team selection, saying that not a single player in the squad was included without performance.
