Pakistan’s chances of moving on in the Champions Trophy were severely hurt when they lost to India by six wickets on Sunday. Captain Mohammad Rizwan candidly admitted that his team’s campaign is over. However, mathematical possibilities still keep them in contention. With other teams now competing, the defending champions rely on other results to keep their slim hopes alive. Fans are actively discussing the tournament updates on platforms like the bpexch app, where live scores and match analysis keep them engaged.
Rizwan’s Honest Assessment: “It’s Over”
After the game, Rizwan didn’t hold back when discussing Pakistan’s current situation in a press conference. “For now, we can say that it’s over. He said, “This is the truth.” Pakistan is in a tough spot because they’ve lost both of their first two games in the event. While they are not officially eliminated, their fate depends on outcomes beyond their control.
Pakistan’s immediate requirement is an unlikely victory for Bangladesh over New Zealand in their upcoming match. Even if that result goes their way, Pakistan must also secure a win against Bangladesh in their final league game on February 27. Rizwan, however, expressed his discomfort with relying on external factors to move in the tournament.
Rizwan doesn’t like backdoor progress.
It was made clear by the Pakistan captain that he doesn’t like moving forward through what he called the “back door.” He stressed the importance of winning games on the pitch instead of relying on how other teams played. “As a captain, I honestly don’t like this. If you can win, then do it. If you can’t, then don’t worry about it. I don’t care if you are sitting in someone else’s shadow,” Rizwan said.
He acknowledged the team’s recent losses to New Zealand and India, accepting responsibility for their performances. “Yes, New Zealand and India beat us, too.” We agree with it. We can play well; we can play poorly. We can’t say we should support someone else. Allah has made this a chance; we can’t know anything about it,” he added.
Rizwan also highlighted the importance of keeping hope and faith, stating that the team’s reliance on the Champions Trophy now hinges on other teams’ results. “In the next game, we’ll see how Bangladesh plays against New Zealand, how New Zealand plays against India, and how we play.” It’s a long trip. Yes, we have hope and trust in Allah,” he said.
Defending the Team Selection
Pakistan’s choice to play only one specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed, against an Indian team with three spinners in their playing XI was one of the main things people talked about after the game. Rizwan defended the team’s selection, dismissing any notion that it was a mistake. “You can’t say that we made a mistake by picking just one spinner. Take a look at that Indian team too. Kuldeep Yadav is their main spin bowler. Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are both good at many things. We also have Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah. They bowled very well in the past,” he explained.
It was clear from Rizwan’s words that the team was confident in their strategy, even though it didn’t work against India. The fact that the Pakistan captain trusts his players shows he is a leader supporting his team’s choices and skills.
A Big Fear: Middle-Order Collapse
Another critical factor in Pakistan’s defeat was the failure of their middle-order batters to deliver. Rizwan admitted this weakness and said the middle order did not play as well as he had hoped. “The middle order wasn’t good enough. At our meeting, we talked about how 270 to 280 runs would be enough on this play yesterday. Because the outfield was slow and the pitch was slow. If we had scored 280, maybe the results would be different,” he said.
Rizwan (46) and Saud Shakeel (62) built a strong 104-run partnership for the third wicket to get Pakistan’s innings off to a good start. However, the team lost momentum once they were dismissed and struggled to keep the scoring rate. “Saud and I tried to work together, but it took a long time.” But after that, the shot selection was poor, and that’s where they got a chance to take our wickets. “Our middle order couldn’t handle the pressure after that, and we couldn’t get by,” Rizwan said.
The collapse saw Pakistan bowled out for 241, which India chased down with relative ease, thanks to a composed batting performance. The inability of Pakistan’s middle-order to capitalize on the foundation laid by Rizwan and Shakeel proved to be a decisive factor in the match.
What’s Next: A Test of Character
Pakistan is in a tough spot because their Champions Trophy hopes are hanging by a thread. The team must regroup and focus on their final league match against Bangladesh, hoping for favorable results in other games. Rizwan’s leadership will keep the team motivated and focused on the task.
Despite the challenges, Rizwan remains hopeful and steadfast in his belief in the team’s abilities. “Our dependence on the Champions Trophy has now come on other teams,” he said, acknowledging the difficult road ahead. However, he also emphasized the value of maintaining faith and fighting until the end.
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Final Thoughts
Pakistan’s time in the Champions Trophy has not been good. They have lost two games in a row and are nearly eliminated. Through his honest thoughts, Captain Mohammad Rizwan shows how hard it is for the team to turn around their campaign. Pakistan will have to show how strong and determined they are in the next few days, even though the odds are against them. It remains to be seen if they can go against the odds and keep their title defense going, but one thing is for sure: the road ahead will take nothing less than a miracle.
