Pakistan’s Champions Trophy Homecoming: A Rain-Soaked Letdown

It’s a tough day to be a Pakistan cricket fan. After 29 long years, the country finally hosted an ICC event—the Champions Trophy 2025—only for it to end in a soggy, winless whimper. The final Group A match against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi was washed out by relentless rain, leaving Pakistan at the bottom of their group without a single victory to their name. Even the defending champs couldn’t catch a break, finishing below Bangladesh on Net Run Rate in what’s been a tournament to forget.

A Tournament of Missed Chances

Let’s rewind a bit. Pakistan came into this tournament with high hopes, especially after such a long wait to bring an ICC event back home. But the campaign kicked off with a thud—two heavy defeats that exposed cracks in the team’s batting lineup. Against New Zealand, they were chasing a daunting 320 but crawled to just 22 runs in the PowerPlay, eventually falling short by 60 runs. Then came India, where they won a crucial toss but couldn’t find their rhythm. Their batting veered between over-aggression and hesitancy, leaving them with a mediocre 241—a total India chased down with ease.

The Bangladesh game was supposed to be a flicker of redemption, even if it was a dead rubber. A chance to give the home crowd something to cheer about. But nature had other plans. The skies opened up, the gloom settled in, and by 15:30 local time, the umpires called it quits. No play, no win, no redemption—just the second rain-abandoned match at Rawalpindi in this tournament, after South Africa vs. Australia met the same fate earlier.

What Went Wrong?

If we’re pointing fingers, the batting has to take the bulk of the blame. Those PowerPlay struggles against New Zealand? Painful. The inconsistency against India? Frustrating. It’s not just about the losses—it’s how they happened. Pakistan’s batsmen seemed caught in a tug-of-war between caution and chaos, and neither approach worked. The bowlers, meanwhile, fought hard but couldn’t compensate for the low totals they were left defending.

And then there’s the weather. Rain isn’t something you can control, but two washouts at the same venue raise questions about scheduling and contingency plans. For a tournament this big, it’s a bitter pill to swallow when the elements steal the show.

A Silver Lining?

It’s not all doom and gloom. Hosting the Champions Trophy after nearly three decades is a milestone worth celebrating for Pakistan cricket. The fans showed up, the stage was set, and the team had a chance to shine on home soil. Sure, the results didn’t go their way, but this could be a stepping stone—a chance to regroup, rethink, and come back stronger. The next ICC event might not be 29 years away, and lessons from this rain-soaked disappointment could fuel a fiercer comeback.

What’s Next?

For now, Pakistan’s Champions Trophy journey ends here, but the cricketing world keeps turning. Fans will be looking to the team’s leadership to address those batting woes and build a more consistent unit. And maybe, just maybe, they’ll pray for clearer skies next time around.

Reference from:-https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/133599/pakistans-champions-trophy-homecoming-ends-in-rain-soaked-disappointment