Pakistan’s Early Exit from Champions Trophy 2025 – Ricky Ponting Points Out Key Reasons
Did Pakistan Fail to Utilize Its Best Players in Champions Trophy 2025
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, known for his deep understanding of cricket, has shared his thoughts on Pakistan’s disappointing performance. Despite entering as hosts and defending champions, Pakistan became the first team to be eliminated from the Champions Trophy 2025.
Their campaign started with a loss to New Zealand in Karachi, followed by another defeat against arch-rivals India in Dubai. Regarding the matter, Ricky Ponting questioned whether Pakistan was making the best use of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.
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He pointed out that the team’s strategy failed to capitalize on its strongest players, leading to underwhelming performances. “Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan needed to step up and score more runs, but they struggled in both matches,” Ponting stated.
He further emphasized that this lack of impact from key players could be the reason Pakistan failed to reach the semi-finals. Ponting also praised Indian star Virat Kohli for thriving under pressure and delivering when his team needed him the most. “I have always said that winning big matches requires big players, and for India, their biggest challenge was facing Pakistan.”
He highlighted that a player’s legacy is defined by how they perform in high-stakes international matches on the global stage. “So, it wasn’t surprising to see Kohli step up and lead his team with a match-winning performance,” Ponting concluded.
