Sports Desk: Defending champions Pakistan faced a humiliating exit from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 after losing two consecutive matches, missing out on the semi-finals. The team’s poor performance has drawn widespread criticism, with former cricketers expressing disappointment. Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi recently weighed in on the issue, blaming former captain and ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan for the decline of Pakistan cricket.
Sethi highlighted that Pakistan was once a dominant force in international cricket, ranking number one in ODIs in 1990 and 1996, topping Tests in 2016, and leading T20 rankings in 2018. He pointed out that political interference, particularly decisions made by Prime Ministers regarding team management and selectors, has severely affected the team’s performance. Internal conflicts, lack of merit-based selections, and favoritism within the squad were also cited as reasons for the team’s downfall.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan, who is currently jailed on corruption charges, reportedly expressed disappointment over Pakistan’s exit, stating that improper decision-making has led to the team’s decline. Former Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad also criticized Babar Azam, accusing him of favoring friends over merit-based selections, further weakening the team.
