Champions Trophy exit hurts, but Rizwan’s “I don’t care” hurts more

29 years after Pakistan last hosted the ICC Champions Trophy, the national team has delivered a crushing blow to its fans, after team Pakistan lost a do or die match against India (a defeat that’d leave a lasting scar) and with that yesterday’s showers at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in a last group match against Bangladesh, not only poured onto the ground but also washed away the Green Shirts’ campaign, bringing it to a halt.

Despite this, what was most disturbing Captain Rizwan's post-match press conference remarks after defeat against India last week (which was more of a comedy of errors) seemed shallow, failing to inspire a team that had desperately needed a turnaround. India wrapped up the match in the 42nd over, making it a one-sided contest.

But, the most memorable performance of the match came from cricket legend Virat Kohli, who scored an unbeaten and unforgettable century. Kohli has once again proved that he is the king of contemporary cricket, having completed the fastest 14,000 ODI runs in his 287th innings, which speaks volumes of his class and ther’s no denial in saying that: we are living in the Kohli era.

There's no denying that Virat's recent performances had been subpar, but he made a stunning comeback with a magnificent innings for Team India in a crucial match. This return to form will undoubtedly benefit Team India in the Champions Trophy. Virat Kohli has proven how to play for his team, and this innings serves as an ABC guide for the young cricketers.

Courtesy: Online Photo (ESPNCric Info)

Captaincy woes knock Pakistan out of Champions Trophy

On the other hand, team Pakistan’s plight was that its players were embroiled  in internal power struggles over captaincy, seemingly oblivious to the impact on the team's overall performance.

After three decades, Pakistan finally hosted an ICC event, but during this time, many legendary cricketers emerged and left, making a name for themselves and for Pakistan in international cricket. To name a few, these includes: Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar.

None of these players had the chance to play an ICC event on their home soil during their careers.

In spite of this, the current Green Shirts had this historic opportunity, but they squandered it due to their apathy, personal differences, and politics.

The Green Shirts’ journey in the Champions Trophy has come to an end, leaving cricket fans in a state of despair and heartbreak.

The same fans who once revered them as 'kings' are now demanding their return home. Pakistan cricket has perhaps suffered its biggest blow since the ‘99 World Cup and it will take time to recover, on the other hand, Captain Rizwan's words in the post-match press conference are like rubbing salt on the wounds of Pakistani cricket fans.

He said, "We're out, but I don't care."

Such words are rarely spoken by any captain in the cricket world, and it seems like Captain Rizwan is devoid of sense. He's the same Rizwan who became captain after 'great effort', but it was unknown that he would prioritize his position over Pakistan's interests.

Courtesy: Online Photo

Rizwan's press conference sparked widespread outrage

The real reason behind the groupings and personal differences in the national team is the sudden change in captaincy.

First, Babar Azam was removed as captain and Shaheen Shah Afridi was given the reins, only to be replaced by Mohammad Rizwan as captain of the T20 and ODI teams in October 2024.

Notably, this is the same Mohammad Rizwan who was involved in a ‘conflict of Interest’ media scandal with then-Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq, surfaced during the 2023 World Cup and the explosive revelations had exposed a web of conflicts, leaving cricket fans stunned.

Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, were found to be linked to an agent Talha Rahmani, who's a director at Yazoo Intl’ company, a UK-registered.

But, in a shocking twist, it emerged that Mohammad Rizwan is also a director at Yazoo International, according to UK government records! Rizwan, along with Inzamam-ul-Haq and Talha Rahmani, joined the company's board in December 2020.

While, Inzimam ul Haq in a Tv Interview had claimed that the company was setup amidst Covid-19 pandemic to sell bicycle helmets.

First, after the news came out, then chief selector Inzimam ul Haq resigned from the position and welcomed any inquiry to look into the matter and even said: 'I'm resigning to allow PCB and media to freely investigate allegations against me. If cleared, I'll reclaim my position.'

PCB formed a 5-member inquiry committee, but its findings remain unknown till today. However, PCB had clarified at the time that Mohammad Rizwan wasn't part of the investigation, but didn't deny his involvement with the company.

If PCB had transparently investigated and revealed facts then, perhaps Mohammad Rizwan's post-match press conference after the India loss wouldn't have been so brazen. After that conference, it's unlikely any cricketer will advocate for his return to the national side.

After Mohammad Rizwan's recent comments, the board should not only immediately remove him as captain but also ban him from Pakistan cricket for life.

I hope the new chairman of the PCB will set things right before leaving and also fans have hopes that this time, no one will escape Mohsin Naqvi's scrutiny. It's time for the 'star' players to take a break.

The board appears to be waiting for the tournament to conclude in order to avoid global embarrassment; otherwise, it seems that the board is indifferent to dropping five or six specific players from the national cricket team.

The fault in our stars!

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi may have successfully built new cricket stadiums, but he failed to assemble a formidable team to occupy them.

The 15-member squad, comprising injured players, lacks both head and tail, has turned out to be a nightmare for cricket Pakistan.

With only a day left before teams could make changes to their squads, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had hinted at tweaks to the Pakistan squad, but, surprisingly after a one-hour meeting, the selection committee and captain Rizwan emerged with a consensus to stick with the original squad, a decision that ultimately proved to be a costly mistake, leaving Pakistan's tournament hopes dead in the water.

Pakistan cricket is still stuck in the 90's era and, as a result, has a long way to go in adopting a modern-day fearless approach to the game.

In contrast, Cricket India has undergone a remarkable transformation and its current standing speaks for itself, with star cricketers serving the nation with full zeal and fervor.

There’s so much to learn from but unfortunately as nation we’re too narrow-minded to see the bigger picture and think outside the box - because the fault is in our stars!