Champions Trophy 2025: From Hosting to Performance, Pakistan Faces Tough Questions | Opinion

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Nobody will mind it that it was not a cricketer but an Olympic gold medallist, Arshad Nadeem, who got his hands on the Champions Trophy in Pakistan before the second semi-final of the Champions Trophy between New Zealand and South Africa began on Wednesday.

The last few hours, the way Pakistan as a State and its cricketers have been roasted is not even a joke. Knocked out from the tournament, Pakistan turned beggars when they were pleading, beseechingly, on social media platforms that the final is held in the 'official' host country.

In many ways, what Pakistan also wanted was that India lose the semi-final to Australia, which did not happen. There is a pathological, mutual hatred which India and Pakistan share. With each passing day, it only grows more, since Pakistan's behaviour has not changed.

At least, at one point of time, their cricket was doing well, so there was something to stand up and clap/cheer for. Cricket in Pakistan has collapsed. Quick-fix solutions like a change in captains, shuffling coaches and hiring foreign coaches without being able to pay them salaries has only caused Pakistan more grief. The State is broke and to fix it they have no money. Forget cricket, even for a daily living in Pakistan, it has become very hard for the Pakistanis.

If one thought a big leg of the Champions Trophy being held in Pakistan would improve the state of their cricket, their image and how they have made amends, it has been to the contrary.

Not only did the Pakistan team collapse like a house of cards, their new, 'world-class' infrastructure built for the Champions Trophy is a disaster. The 'pitch' drainage was pathetic and with so many matches getting washed out, even Englishmen were joking if it was Pakistan or some other country.

Worse, what was in store, there were leaking roofs in the stadia in Pakistan. So, where did all the money go? After all, they had begged for more from the ICC, like in David Copperfield's famous 'Oliver Twist.'

All that will come under scrutiny for sure, since the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is corrupt to the core. It is in fitness, everything in Pakistan collapsed, that they were reduced to beggars.

Sample this, they had to rely on Paris 2024 javelin champion Arshad Nadem to bring the trophy out on Wednesday (March 5). No cricketer could have done that. Of course, the saner ones like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis are part of the commentary panel and do not abuse India like their rabid YouTube hate mongers.

The worst, perhaps, was on Tuesday (March 4), as India were inching towards victory, many Pakistanis were praying that India loses so that they could host the final on Sunday. Even forces above did not hear Pakistan and the Aussies lost.

The question is, why has Pakistan become so belligerent that they cannot digest India doing well. They have heartburn that the Indian team is doing well, and they hate it that an Indian is the head of the ICC, Jay Shah.

The fortunes of Pakistan and its cricket will not change with prayers. There is something radically wrong with them. It calls for some deep introspection. They can forget hosting 'blue riband' ICC events in the future for another few decades. After all, terror is also rising again in Pakistan!