kabibe game Champions Trophy: Mohammad Rizwan Concedes Pakistan's Title Defence 'As Good As over'
Rohit Sharma and Mohammad Rizwan during the India Vs Pakistan ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match in Dubai.Photo: X | Pakistan Cricket Rohit Sharma and Mohammad Rizwan during the India Vs Pakistan ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match in Dubai.Photo: X | Pakistan Cricket Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan has conceded that his team's Champions Trophy campaign is as good as over following the loss to India in Dubai. (Full Coverage | More Cricket News)
The six-wicket defeat to India was Pakistan's second in as many games. From Group A, India and New Zealand are expected to reach the semifinals. Pakistan's last league game is against Bangladesh on February 27.
"We can say that our campaign is as good as over. We have to depend on results of other matches. There is hope as there is one more game left. As a captain, I don't like this scenario (depending on other teams). We should have our fate in our hands," said Rizwan at the post-match press conference.
He gave due credit to India and especially Virat Kohli, who completed his 51st ODI hundred and his fourth against the arch-rivals.
IND Vs PAK, ICC Champions Trophy: Rohit Lauds India Great Kohli After Century Heroics In Dubai"I am amazed at the hardwork he puts in. The whole world was saying he was out of form but coming into such a big game, he scored runs effortlessly. His fitness and work ethic is indeed praiseworthy. We tried our best to get him out but we could not.
"As far as the match is concerned, we are obviously disappointed, We made mistakes in all three departments. We were not able to take wickets in the middle overs," he added.
Pakistan came into the tournament as defending champions having won the last edition back in 2017. They are hosting an ICC event for the first time in 29 years and an early exit as hosts will indeed be a big setback for Rizwan's team.
Pakistan had lost to New Zealand in their tournament opener. The Blackcaps had also beaten them twice in the preceding tri-series in Pakistan.
IND Vs PAK, Champions Trophy: Virat Kohli Hits Majestic Ton To Virtually Seal India's Semis BerthRizwan said the team is not learning from its mistakes.
"Look,sayaph honestly, we made the same mistake that we have been making in the past with four matches.
"We are trying to do our work and put in our efforts. Because what I believe in is that our Indian team put in more effort than us today. Maybe they were more brave than us.And we needed energy in our fielding. So maybe we lacked that energy," said the wicket-keeper batter.
Rizwan acknowledged the injuries to openers Saim Ayub and more recently Fakhar Zaman did impact them adversely.
"Our loss occurred when we missed out on Saim Ayub, because we had a package with Saim Ayub because of which our team had settled down. But when Saim Ayub left, our balance and our team's combination faced a big impact.
Arvind Kejriwal resigned as the Chief Minister on Tuesday. Following which Atishi staked claim to form a government in the national capital to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. Kejriwal had announced his plans to step down as the Delhi CM two days after he was released on bail from Tihar Jail. Last week, the Supreme Court had granted him bail in the excise policy-linked CBI case.
"Then Fakhar came and did what was required of us. Then Fakhar Zaman came and then Imam. Imam and Fakhar are two different players. You can't match them in any category. Because they have different calibres and different things," he said.
Pakistan's decision to pick only one specialist spinner in the squad has also drawn criticism.
Rizwan defended that selection call saying it is the age of all-rounders.
"No, you can't say anything like that – that we did a mistake by picking just one spinner. If you look at that Indian team also they have Kuldeep as the front-line spinner.
"Jadeja is like an all-rounder, the same goes for Axar Patel. We also have Salman Ali Agha - he bowled very well in other countries as well and Khushdil Shah, they bowled very well in the past.
gold fish casino slot games"If we don't take wickets in the middle overs - you can't win the matcheskabibe game," Rizwan rued. PTIBS APA APA