Pakistan’s Champions Trophy Exit: Rizwan Highlights Injuries and Future Goals

Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy campaign ended sadly with an abandoned match due to rain, leaving them last in Group A with only one point. Captain Mohammad Rizwan attributed the team’s struggles to injuries of key players like Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman and called for improvements in the squad’s professionalism. Looking ahead, the team aims to learn from their mistakes in preparation for the upcoming tour to New Zealand.

Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy title defense concluded disappointingly on a rainy Thursday in Rawalpindi, as their final group match was abandoned with no play due to persistent rain. Following consecutive losses to New Zealand and India, the team, led by Mohammad Rizwan, finished at the bottom of Group A, securing only one point.

Addressing the challenges faced during the tournament, Captain Rizwan acknowledged that injuries to key players Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman significantly disrupted the team’s balance. “We wanted to do well and perform well in front of our nation. The expectations are very high. We didn’t perform well and it is disappointing for us,” he stated.

Rizwan noted that the absence of consistently performing players like Ayub, who was sidelined with an ankle injury from the Test series against South Africa, impacted the team’s dynamics. He expressed the need to adapt to such losses, stating, “Yes, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub were injured, but we will learn from this.”

Regarding the overall strength of Pakistan’s squad, Rizwan emphasized the necessity for improvement in player professionalism and awareness, especially within the domestic circuit. He asserted, “We want improvements in different things. If we want to improve, and for Pakistan to have a high standard, we need awareness, professionalism.”

Looking ahead, Pakistan will tour New Zealand for a five-match T20I and three-ODI series starting March 16. Rizwan expressed optimism for upcoming matches, acknowledging past mistakes and highlighting the goal to better performance in New Zealand. “Hopefully we can perform there, and the mistakes that we did against New Zealand here in Pakistan, we can learn from that, and we will do better in New Zealand.”,

In summary, Pakistan’s campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy was marred by injuries and poor performance, culminating in a disappointing exit. Captain Mohammad Rizwan identified injuries to key players as significant setbacks and underscored the need for improvements in various aspects of the game. Moving forward, the team’s focus will be on learning from past mistakes as they prepare for their upcoming series in New Zealand.

Original Source: www.icc-cricket.com