Former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal lashed out at Mohammad Rizwan-led side after their dismal outing in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Defending champions and hosts Pakistan got out of the tournament without winning a single game. The Men in Green lost their group stage clashes against New Zealand and India respectively and their third league clash against Bangladesh washed out due to rain.
Champions Trophy 2025 is the first ICC event hosted by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after 29 years. They become the first ever host nation that got out of the tournament without winning a single game.
“We are not able to defeat D teams who come to our country playing with our full teams. You are good and get respect only when your team plays well and wins,” Akmal said on his YouTube channel.
Champions Trophy 2025 was played in a hybrid model as the Indian government denied sending the team to the neighbouring nation citing players' safety. Rohit Sharma-led India played all their matches in Dubai. Team India won the tournament defeating New Zealand in the final at Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.
After flop show in the Champions Trophy, Pakistan are scheduled to play a white ball series against New Zealand. New Zealand will host Pakistan for a five-match T20I series followed by a three-match ODI series scheduled to start from March 16. PCB has revamped their T20I squad against New Zealand as they appointed Salman Ali Agha as their new captain sidelining the star players like Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Pakistan squad for T20I and ODIs against New Zealand
T20I squad - Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Haris, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousaf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim and Usman Khan
ODI squad - Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sufyan Moqim and Tayyab Tahir. A wicketkeeper/batter will be added to the ODI squad following the T20Is