Home
Mohammad Rizwan-led Pakistan Team's disastrous campaign in the Champions Trophy has drawn a whole lot of flak and criticism. Pakistan, whose performance in under strict scanner after Champions Trophy exit, signed off the tournament without winning a single match.
Rift within Pakistan team following disagreement between Mohammad Rizwan and head coach Aaqib Javed
Adding to the already compounded woes to Men in Green, a report from Pakistan Cricket is doing round that the team is marred by an evident internal rift after their early exit from the group stage. Reports indicate a growing rift between captain Mohammad Rizwan and interim head coach Aaqib Javed. It has been learnt that the root cause of this crack is Rizwan's exclusion from key decision-making processes.
Pakistan's embarrassing campaign, leading to their elimination, has amplified the scrutiny on the reported friction. Specifically, concerns have surfaced regarding disagreements over crucial team selections, which have reportedly left Rizwan feeling frustrated and undermined. This internal conflict is believed to have played a big role in negatively impacting Pakistan's overall campaign. Despite the upcoming final group-stage match against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, the focus has shifted to the internal dynamics that have contributed to their underwhelming performance.
The rift between Pakistan's captain, Mohammad Rizwan, and interim head coach, Aaqib Javed, extended to specific player selections, further exacerbating the team's internal tensions. According to reports, a key point of contention arose over the inclusion of Khushdil Shah, who was reportedly favored by Rizwan. On the other hand, Aaqib Javed strongly advocated for the selection of Faheem Ashraf. This disagreement, coupled with broader differences in squad selection strategies, is believed to have played a significant role in disrupting team harmony and adversely affecting performance. Ultimately, these internal conflicts, manifested in differing opinions on player choices, contributed to Pakistan's disappointing and premature exit from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
"According to sources, Mohammad Rizwan appeared frustrated due to a lack of consultation on key decisions. When he advocated for the inclusion of Khushdil Shah, Aqib Javed went ahead and selected Faheem Ashraf on his own. The selection committee and Mohammad Rizwan were clearly not on the same page," Cricket Pakistan reported.
Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi's spots under threat?
Following Pakistan's disappointing exit from the Champions Trophy, PCB has reportedly announced a comprehensive review of the team's performance. This review has placed several senior players, including prominent figures like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf, under scrutiny, with potential changes to the squad looming. Interim head coach Aqib Javed, despite facing criticism for his squad selections, has indicated he has no intention of resigning. However, it is widely expected that the PCB will relieve him of his duties.
The PCB's decision to conduct this review comes after revelations that Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had previously advised revisiting the squad composition on two separate occasions prior to the tournament. This advice, however, was disregarded, and Naqvi ultimately chose not to intervene. Now, the PCB intends to hold detailed discussions with the team management to identify and rectify the mistakes that led to their underwhelming performance. It is anticipated that these discussions will result in difficult decisions, as the PCB seeks to address the team's shortcomings and implement necessary changes.
Babar Azam's recent decline in form, which has persisted for over a year has already put him under strict radar. Despite Aaqib Javed and the selectors maintaining that they selected the strongest available squad, it is evident that the team is grappling with notable weaknesses, particularly in the opening batting, spin bowling, and all-rounder departments. Babar Azam's individual performances have been a major source of disappointment, with his contributions falling short of expectations.
In the crucial opening match against New Zealand, while chasing a substantial target of 321 runs, Babar managed only 64 runs off 90 balls. He then failed to click with the bat in the high-octane clash against India where he scored just 23 runs, contributing to Pakistan's six-wicket loss. The statistics underscore Babar's struggle, as his average across all formats has remained below 40 for the past three seasons, spanning from 2023 to 2025.
