‘Even MS Dhoni Can’t do Anything With This Side’ – Sana Mir Criticizes Pakistan’s Champions Trophy Squad Selection

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Former Pakistan women's captain Sana Mir has joined the chorus of criticism against the men's team led by Mohammad Rizwan following their early exit from the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025.

Hosts Pakistan, who suffered humiliating defeats to New Zealand and arch-rivals India, were eliminated from the ongoing eight-team Champions Trophy even before they faced Bangladesh in their final group stage match.

Sana Mir believes even someone like Mahendra Singh Dhoni or Younis Khan could have done anything with the current Pakistan side, saying the team for the Champions Trophy has not been selected looking at the conditions.

"The 15 that have been selected (in Champions Trophy squad), even if you make MS Dhoni or (former Pakistan skipper) Younis Khan captain, nobody can do anything to the team because it has not been selected on the basis of the playing conditions," Mir said during PTV's 'Game On Hai' show.

Pakistan team has also received flak from the fans in Pakistan for the way they lost both their matches. Mir also recalled how she responded to a text from one of her friend when Pakistan was on-route to a six-wicket loss against India in the marquee clash in Dubai.

"I was watching the match when I got a message from a friend that India are 100 for 2 'I think it's over'. So, I said the match was over when the squad was announced," said the 39-year-old cricketer-turned-commentator.

Mir, who played more than 300 white-ball games mainly as a right-arm spinner, said Pakistan lost the tournament even before it started with their squad selecation as she further highlighted how the selectors picked only one spinner in an inexperienced Abrar Ahmed.

"Half the tournament we had lost when we announced the 15-member squad, and I am saying this from day one. They (selectors) knew that Pakistan had to play at least one match in Dubai, so how did you bring two part-time spinners.

"Abrar (Ahmed), who is still new in ODI cricket... in the last five months, they have taken two wickets conceding 165 runs. The selectors removed key players who played in last two series against Australia and South Africa," said Mir.

"Irfan (Khan) Niazi was a good fielder, showed good power-hitting (in the T20I and ODI series against South Africa)... so, we lost the tournament when we announced the squad."

Abrar just managed one wicket in 10 overs against india, though he was the most economical among Pakistan bowlers, conceding 28 runs. Even during the 60-run loss against New Zealand also, the tweaker finished with figures of 1 for 47. While he was economical, Abrar failed to get among the wickets.

Pakistan dropped several players who had featured in the build up to the Champions Trophy to make space for the big name stars. The much-hyped pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf looked out of sorts, while Babar Azam failed to produce anything substantial with the bat.

Pakistan will play a dead rubber against Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday (February 27), but major changes could be waiting once the tournament is over after the capitulation against New Zealand and India.