Pakistan’s disappointing early exit from their home Champions Trophy campaign has been attributed to a lack of experience, according to white-ball head coach Aaqib Javed. Injuries to key players, including Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, only exacerbated the team’s struggles in the high-pressure tournament.
With one match remaining against Bangladesh—another eliminated side—Pakistan’s campaign is effectively over. However, that fixture in Rawalpindi on Thursday faces a serious threat from rain, adding to Pakistan’s woes in an already forgettable tournament.
Reflecting on the team’s struggles, Javed highlighted the stark contrast in experience between Pakistan and their rivals, particularly India.
“When Pakistan and India play, it’s more than just a game—you need a lot of experience,” Javed said. “This Indian team is the most experienced, with nearly 1500 games together. Pakistan, on the other hand, has played less than 400 games collectively. Babar Azam is the only player with over 100 ODIs, followed by Mohammad Rizwan (88) and Shaheen Afridi (64). Many of our players have fewer than 30 games under their belt.”
Fakhar’s early exit from the tournament and Ayub’s injury left Pakistan scrambling for replacements, disrupting their ideal team combination. Javed explained that Ayub’s ability to contribute both as a top-order batter and part-time bowler made him a crucial asset, and his absence forced Pakistan to bring in Khushdil Shah.
“When Saim was available, he provided a balance by batting at the top and bowling five to seven overs,” Javed noted. “Without him, we had to adjust. Even with Khushdil Shah’s recent performances, the difference in impact was evident.”
Babar’s Form Under Scrutiny as Pakistan Begin Title Defense
Pakistan had banked on their senior core—Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah—to step up, but the match-winning performances never arrived. The team has faced heavy criticism back home following their elimination.
“A common person wants to know who is responsible for the losses,” Javed said. “Babar, Rizwan, Shaheen, Naseem, and Haris were our key players, and we built the squad around them. There’s no doubt about their talent—our fast-bowling attack is one of the best. But apart from Babar, what other batting options do we have? The reality is, this is already the most inexperienced team.”
With Pakistan’s campaign ending in disappointment, Javed’s remarks shed light on the challenges of rebuilding a side lacking the depth and experience required to succeed in a major ICC event.
