It was a Champions Trophy 2025 to forget for Pakistan. Their first group-stage match against New Zealand, the curtain-raiser of the tournament, ended in a 60-run defeat. A thumping six-wicket defeat to arch-rivals, India, furthered Pakistan's misery. Their final league phase game against Bangladesh was washed out due to inclement weather. Pakistan ended up getting knocked out in an ICC tournament which they were hosting for the first time after 29 years.
Former Pakistani wicketkeeper-batter, Kamran Akmal, criticised Pakistan's lackluster outings in the recently-concluded 50-over tournament. He also deemed the post-match ceremony after the summit clash as being an embarrassing moment for the representatives of the host nation.
“We are not able to defeat D teams who come to our country playing with our full teams. You are good and get respect only when your team plays well and wins. (On the post-match scenes after the final) It was shameful in the [post-match] ceremony. We are not capable of this because our aim was to host the event and we did it and it was successful but with that, you also earn respect by playing good cricket. We have finished eighth and that is why we are being made fun of. In the ceremony, no one discussed about Pakistan and how good the tournament was (while being) hosted in Pakistan,” shared Kamran on his YouTube channel.
The chairperson did not come, because we did not deserve it: Kamran
The former cricketer expressed his frustration by delving deeper into the happenings at the aforementioned post-match ceremony.
“The final of the Champions Trophy is done but we have been shown the mirror by the ICC and by world cricket the way we played and the way we had no representation in the ceremony. The chairperson was not there and not well, but the tournament director was there, he could have come for the ceremony. Why did he not come? He did not come, because we did not deserve it. The way we have played, our performance has been poor for the last 5-6 years,” added Kamran.
Also Read: Pakistan batting coach Mohammad Yousuf reverses decision, will travel for New Zealand tour
Pakistan will be touring New Zealand for five T20Is and three ODIs next. The white-ball series is scheduled to commence on Sunday, March 16.
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