As Pakistan gears up for the Champions Trophy 2025, their recent performance in the tri-nation series against New Zealand and South Africa has sparked both excitement and major concerns. The tournament, seen as a crucial testing ground for the squad, exposed Pakistan’s unpredictability yet again, starting with a crushing defeat to New Zealand, followed by a historic comeback against South Africa, only to collapse in the final against New Zealand at Karachi Stadium. However, the inconsistency of key players, especially Babar Azam’s continued failures and the players like Khushdil Shah, faheem ashraf and hussnain who’re making a comeback in team but their disappointing run, has raised serious questions ahead of CT25. Adding to the tension, there are strong rumors of possible squad changes before the mega event.
After their stunning win over South Africa, fans expected Pakistan to deliver in the final against New Zealand. Instead, they suffered another humiliating defeat, exposing their inconsistency once again.
What Went Wrong in the Final?
Babar Azam’s Continued Failure : Once again, Babar failed to deliver under pressure, raising serious concerns about his form.
His inability to anchor innings left the middle order exposed.
Khushdil Shah’s Worst Performance : Given a crucial opportunity, Khushdil completely failed with both bat and ball. His lack of impact raises serious doubts about his place in the squad.
Batting Collapse : The top order crumbled, relying too much on individual brilliance.
Pakistan’s middle order failed to handle pressure, exposing a major weakness.
Bowling Struggles : Pakistan’s pacers lacked accuracy and control, allowing New Zealand to dominate freely. The fast bowlers struggled with variations, making it easy for Kiwi batters to score.
Naseem Shah’s Inconsistency : Naseem, despite being in the team for a while continues to struggle with control.
His late swing is not enough, and he needs to adjust his line and length to avoid leaking runs. He must step up as a senior bowler and show more maturity in high-pressure situations.
Faheem Ashraf’s Underwhelming Role : He was brought in as a fast-bowling all-rounder, but he failed to contribute significantly.
Neither his batting nor bowling made any real impact, questioning his role in the squad.
Pakistan needs more effective all-rounders who can handle pressure in big matches.
Misfielding & Dropped Catches : Pakistan’s fielding was once again a disaster, with multiple dropped catches and misfields.
Key moments in the game saw chances go begging, which allowed New Zealand to build momentum.
If Pakistan doesn’t fix their fielding issues, they will struggle in pressure games at CT25.
Rumors of Squad Changes for CT25
Following the team’s inconsistency in the tri-nation series, reports suggest that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering changes before CT25.
Possible Changes Being Discussed:
1) Middle-order reshuffle
2) Spin department boost
3) Pace attack adjustments
Can they fix their batting collapses, sharpen their bowling attack, and find a winning formula before CT25 begins? Only time will tell.
Author: Sufian Shahid
