Former Australian captain and cricketing legend Ricky Ponting has weighed in on Pakistan’s early exit from the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, pointing to the underperformance of their key players as a major factor.
Despite being the tournament hosts and defending champions, Pakistan became the first team to be eliminated after back-to-back defeats against New Zealand and India.
Speaking on The ICC Review, Ricky Ponting questioned whether Pakistan had effectively utilized their star players, particularly Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who failed to deliver match-winning performances in the crucial group-stage games.
“They haven’t been able to give their best to the team. Those two guys had to step up and score big runs,” Ponting said. “And they haven’t been able to do it in the first couple of games, which might be the reason why Pakistan didn’t make it to the semi-finals.”
Ponting’s comments come after Pakistan’s disappointing performances in the tournament. In their opening match against New Zealand, Pakistan suffered a 60-run defeat in Karachi, followed by a six-wicket loss to India in Dubai on February 23.
Ponting also drew comparisons between Pakistan’s struggles and Virat Kohli’s ability to perform in high-pressure situations. The former Australian skipper praised Kohli for stepping up in India’s crucial match against Pakistan, where the star batter played a pivotal role in securing a comfortable victory for his team.
“I’ve always said big games require big players. You need your stars to rise to the occasion, and there’s no bigger game for India than one against Pakistan,” Ponting remarked.
He further emphasized the importance of delivering in marquee matches, saying: “Your reputation is built on how you perform in the biggest contests on the international stage. So it’s no surprise to me that Kohli stepped up.”