Mohammad Rizwan is facing calls to step down as Pakistan's white-ball captain after the team was knocked out of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025. As the defending champions and hosts of the ICC event for the first time in 29 years, Pakistan's elimination came after New Zealand defeated Bangladesh by five wickets at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Former cricketer Sikander Bakht criticized Rizwan, claiming he was never the right fit for the captaincy due to his inability to communicate effectively.

Pakistan suffered losses to both New Zealand and India in their first two matches of the tournament, leading to backlash over the team's quality and lackluster performance.

Bakht also pointed out that Babar Azam was similarly an unsuitable choice for captain. Rizwan took over the ODI captaincy after Babar stepped down.

“First off, Rizwan should resign as captain. I struggle to understand him when he talks. If someone can’t express themselves, how can they lead?” Bakht shared with Geo News.

“We’ve seen his performance as captain, and it’s clear he’s not the right pick. I’ve said the same about Babar Azam too,” he added.

Terminate their main contracts

A former cricketer from Pakistan, who has played 26 Tests and 27 ODIs, believes it's time to scrap the central contracts for certain players. He argues that these contracts should only be reinstated once the players start delivering solid performances.

It's worth noting that the Champions Trophy marks the third straight ICC event where Pakistan has failed to make it to the semi-finals. They were also eliminated in the group stages of the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup.

“We need to shake things up. Get rid of their central contracts. They shouldn’t get them back until the team starts winning,” he stated.

“There has to be some accountability. In the corporate world, if you don’t meet your targets, you’re shown the door,” he added.

Next up, Pakistan will face Bangladesh in a Group A match in Rawalpindi on Thursday. However, this game is essentially meaningless since both teams are out of the running for the semi-finals.

Read Also: Even Dhoni Couldn’t Fix This: Pakistan Cricket in Crisis After Early Exit

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