The search for scapegoats started after Pakistan’s defeat against India, with former players urging the management to drop players. The real blame for the team’s defeat lies with the batters who failed to score runs against the Men in Blue. Babar Azam gifted his wicket despite finding his rhythm, while captain Mohammad Rizwan batted as if it was a Test match. The result was 241 runs in 49.3 in front of a dominating Indian side.
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill started aggressively, and despite losing the former, the run rate never came down. Virat Kohli, who was struggling for form, returned to his best, scoring a hundred against arch-rivals. He hit the winning run in the 43rd over of the chase, with India registering a six-wicket victory.
Former head coach and the director of the national team, Mohammad Hafeez, slammed Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf and demanded their removal from the squad.
“The people thought it was a trial during the 2023 Asia Cup. Shaheen, Haris and Naseem were ready to win big events for us. Asia Cup failure, the 2023 fifty-over World Cup failure, the 2022 T20 World Cup in Melbourne failure and now this ICC Champions Trophy failure.
Muhammad Hafeez speaking the truth once again. pic.twitter.com/ZJG8v39Oah
— Haroon (@ThisHaroon) February 23, 2025
“It is time to realise that according to many people these players have skills but these skills are not capable of winning big tournaments. They are not proving it so let’s move on from them and let’s bring other people,” Mohammad Hafeez said.