Pakistan's long-awaited return to hosting an ICC event after almost 30 years ended in a major letdown as they exited the Champions Trophy 2025 without securing a single win. Their last Group A match against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27 was rained out, capping off a disappointing campaign that saw the defending champions finish at the bottom of the standings.

As a cricketing giant, Pakistan made history for all the wrong reasons, becoming the first host nation since the Champions Trophy was revamped in 2002 to leave the tournament without a victory. This marks the second time Pakistan has ended a campaign winless, having also finished with 0 points in the 2013 tournament held in England.

The troubles for Pakistan kicked off in Karachi, where they faced a 60-run defeat against New Zealand. Their batting weaknesses were laid bare, with the middle order collapsing under pressure. Fans and former players criticized the lack of aggression, especially after Babar Azam managed just 64 runs off 90 balls in a chase of 321 runs.

The loss to the Kiwis put them in a tough spot, leaving no margin for error as they prepared for a crucial match against their fierce rivals, India, in Dubai.

Unfortunately, instead of bouncing back, Pakistan faltered again. They chose to bat first but could only muster 241 runs, leading to a six-wicket defeat.

Pakistan's hopes were hanging by a thread as they relied on Bangladesh to pull off a win against New Zealand to keep their dreams alive. Unfortunately, the Kiwis delivered a solid performance, securing their spot in the semi-finals and putting an end to the host nation's journey.

In an effort to save face, Pakistan prepared for their last match against Bangladesh, but the weather had other plans, with relentless rain washing out the game before it even started. With only one point and a net run rate of -1.087, Pakistan's campaign ended quietly and disappointingly.

This early exit stings even more considering how important this tournament was for Pakistan. Hosting an ICC event for the first time since 1996, there were high hopes for the 2017 Champions Trophy winners to make a strong impression. Instead of taking advantage of home conditions, Pakistan struggled with inconsistency and lackluster performances with both bat and ball.

Their inability to secure a single win raises serious questions about their ODI setup. Despite having plenty of talent, their batting lineup showed a lack of resilience, and their bowling attack didn’t make the impact they needed..

The path ahead for Pakistan

As Pakistan looks back on this disappointing campaign, there will definitely be some tough questions about their prep, player choices, and how they handle pressure.

Earlier this week, Express Tribune mentioned that things might not be great between Mohammad Rizwan and interim coach Aaqib Javed, as they reportedly had a disagreement over team selection. With the team's poor performance, the PCB might have to make some hard calls.

Read Also: Shubman Gill Set to Lead India in Champions Trophy 2025? Reports Suggest Big Role Ahead

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