Islamabad [Pakistan]: Pakistan’s title defense in the ICC Champions Trophy came to a premature end after back-to-back defeats against New Zealand and India, leaving the cricketing nation in shock.
Former cricketer Basit Ali, who had previously predicted that the final would be played in Lahore, apologized for his statement, expressing disappointment over Pakistan’s performance.
“I apologize for saying that the final will be played in Lahore. I didn’t expect Pakistan to play like this,” Basit said on his YouTube channel.
With Pakistan officially eliminated, Basit Ali has now backed India to dominate the tournament and lift the title on March 9.
“I genuinely wish India would dominate the tournament and win it. If South Africa and India play the final, it would be good because it will be like the T20 World Cup final,” he added.
Pakistan’s Champions Trophy Exit: What Went Wrong?
Pakistan’s struggles in ICC tournaments continued as they failed to progress beyond the group stage, finishing with two consecutive defeats:
✅ Lost by 60 runs to New Zealand
✅ Lost by six wickets to India
Their semi-final hopes rested on Bangladesh defeating New Zealand, but the Blackcaps sealed their spot with a five-wicket victory in Rawalpindi.
Key Factors Behind Pakistan’s Poor Campaign:
📉 Batting struggles – Pakistan’s key batters, including Babar Azam, failed to deliver against top-quality bowling attacks.
🏏 Bowling letdown – Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah failed to make an impact, allowing opponents to chase comfortably.
😞 Failure in crunch moments – Pakistan lost key battles in both matches, especially against India in a high-pressure encounter.
India Outclassed Pakistan in Every Department
India’s dominant six-wicket victory over Pakistan was a testament to their well-rounded performance. The Men in Blue outplayed Pakistan in all three facets:
✅ Bowling discipline – India’s bowlers never allowed Pakistan’s batters to settle.
✅ Virat Kohli’s brilliance – His unbeaten century anchored India’s chase.
✅ Superior team balance – Every player contributed, ensuring a smooth victory.
With Pakistan’s semi-final hopes dead and buried, they will wrap up their campaign against Bangladesh in a dead rubber match on Thursday in Rawalpindi. Meanwhile, India marches into the semi-finals, aiming for their third Champions Trophy title.