The Champions Trophy match between hosts Pakistan and Bangladesh on Thursday was called off without a single ball being bowled due to persistent rain.
Competing in their first ICC tournament on home soil in 29 years, Pakistan’s campaign ended in disappointment as they failed to register a single victory. Bangladesh also concluded their tournament without a win, leaving them with much to ponder. Both teams will receive a point each from the abandoned match.
The ICC #ChampionsTrophy match between Pakistan and Bangladesh is abandoned without a ball bowled 🌧️#PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/h7uxOhYb9J
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 27, 2025
Pakistan has come under intense scrutiny for their disappointing performance, which included a six-wicket loss to arch-rivals India in Dubai.
This is the second match in Rawalpindi to be abandoned due to rain during the tournament, following the earlier washout between South Africa and Australia.
It also marks the third consecutive ICC tournament where Pakistan has failed to advance beyond the first round, after their early eliminations in the 2023 ODI World Cup and last year’s T20 World Cup.
“It’s been shocking for us that we haven’t played well in ICC tournaments,” Pakistan assistant coach Azhar Mahmood admitted.
Mahmood highlighted that injuries to opening batters Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub had a major impact, with Pakistan’s batters accumulating a staggering 308 dot balls in their completed matches against India and New Zealand.
“We have played good cricket in this format, but in this tournament, it has not gone well because of injuries,” he explained. “Against India, we took a lot of pressure on ourselves, but we know where we need to improve. It is all about adapting and taking responsibility.”
