Rawalpindi, Feb 27 – Pakistan’s winless run in the Champions Trophy concluded dismally as their final match against Bangladesh was abandoned due to relentless rain without a single ball being bowled. With both teams already eliminated after successive defeats in their previous matches, the fixture was a dead rubber, but Pakistan had hoped to end their campaign positively.
Hosting an ICC event for the first time in 29 years, Pakistan's aspirations were marred by poor performances and unfavorable weather. The persistent downpour left the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium soaked, with large puddles forming on the outfield. Match officials were forced to call off the game nearly two hours after the scheduled start time, denying even the toss from taking place.
This was the second match in Rawalpindi to be washed out in the tournament, following the abandoned game between South Africa and Australia earlier in the week. The shared points meant that Pakistan and Bangladesh exited the tournament without a single victory, a frustrating outcome for home fans who hoped to see their team redeem itself.
Pakistan’s Disappointing Performance Sparks Criticism
Pakistan’s underwhelming campaign saw them suffer a 60-run loss to New Zealand and a six-wicket defeat to arch-rivals India. Captain Mohammad Rizwan admitted the team’s shortcomings, acknowledging the immense expectations from fans."We wanted to do well in front of our home crowd. The expectations were very high, and we failed to deliver. It's disappointing for all of us," Rizwan said.
Looking ahead, Rizwan expressed hopes of learning from the mistakes made during the tournament. "We are heading to New Zealand next and need to rectify the errors we committed here. Hopefully, we will perform better there," he added.
'We Put Too Much Pressure on Ourselves Against India': Azhar Mahmood
Assistant coach Azhar Mahmood cited injuries to key players and excessive pressure in high-stakes matches as reasons for Pakistan’s underwhelming performance."We haven’t played well in this tournament. We have performed well in this format before, but injuries hampered us. Against India, we put too much pressure on ourselves," Mahmood explained.
He urged patience from fans, emphasizing the importance of consistency in team selection. "We have to trust the talent we identify and allow them time to develop," he said.
Pakistan suffered setbacks with injuries to Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, which disrupted team balance. Rizwan acknowledged the impact but refused to use it as an excuse.
"Yes, losing key players affected us, but we should be prepared for such situations as a team. We accept that we didn’t perform well. Our expectations are always high, and we are disappointed, too. But we will work hard and come back stronger," the skipper stated.
Bangladesh Reflects on Missed Opportunities
Like Pakistan, Bangladesh also ended the tournament without a win, suffering a six-wicket loss to India and a five-wicket defeat to New Zealand.Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed disappointment over the rain-affected game but remained optimistic. "We wanted to play this match, but unfortunately, we couldn't control the weather. There were moments in our matches where we played well, which is encouraging," he said.
Bangladesh’s bowling unit has long been an area of concern, but Shanto highlighted positive developments. "We have struggled with fast bowling in the past, but promising talents are emerging. Taskin, Rana, and Fizz (Mustafizur Rahman) have performed well. Hopefully, they will continue to deliver for us," he added.
As both teams exit the tournament winless, they focus on rebuilding and preparing for upcoming international assignments. Pakistan's forthcoming tour of New Zealand offers an opportunity for redemption, while Bangladesh will aim to regroup and address its shortcomings.
Last updated by a enewsx: