Skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign got off to a disappointing start as the hosts suffered a 60-run defeat against New Zealand in the opening match at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.
New Zealand set a daunting target of 321 runs, as they capitalized on Pakistan’s inability to contain runs in the middle and death overs. After the loss, Pakistan’s white-ball captain candidly addressed the team’s shortcomings.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Rizwan said, “I think they made a very good target; we didn’t expect they would get 320. We thought around 260 when we took early wickets.”
He further elaborated, “The pitch was not easy to bat early on, but Will Young and Latham’s innings were crucial. Our execution in the end overs was not good, and that’s why they made that score.”
Pakistan’s chase got off to a rocky start, with the team losing early wickets and struggling to build momentum. Rizwan stated,
We lost momentum twice, first in the death overs and then in the powerplay with the bat. Losing Fakhar Zaman [as opener] was crucial.
As the defending champions, Pakistan entered the tournament with high expectations. However, Rizwan emphasized that the team was not letting the pressure of their title defense affect their mindset.
“We didn’t want to put pressure on ourselves by thinking we are defending champions. This match is gone, and the next match is another normal match for us,” Rizwan said.
Pakistan’s next match is against arch-rivals India, a fixture that always carries immense significance for players and fans alike. Despite the hype surrounding the clash, Rizwan maintained a calm demeanor, insisting that the team would approach it as just another game.
For now, the focus remains on learning from their mistakes and bouncing back stronger. As Rizwan aptly put it, “This match is gone, and the next match is another normal match for us.”