Pak and BD play for pride in Pindi today
Pakistan cricket team is going through one of its worst ever periods in ODI cricket. Photo: afp
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has not been a tournament to remember for either Pakistan or Bangladesh, and the team talks ahead of their last game, against each other in Rawalpindi today, are likely to be similar: play for pride, etc. With some chatter about the poor weather - if it continues, as the forecast says, the long faces in the two dressing rooms will get longer.
Pakistan's numbers in the Champions Trophy matches against New Zealand and India don't make for pretty reading. Their top-order batters haven't pulled their collective weight. With Fakhar Zaman out injured, Imam-ul-Haq came in and didn't do much.
Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam have not been able to have any major impact while skipper Mohammad Rizwan hasn't looked in any sort of form despite scoring a century in the tri-series at home before the Champions Trophy. Pakistan could bring in Kamran Ghulam just to freshen things up, but who do they drop?
After the top four, it's no better. Khushdil Shah, Salman Agha and Tayyab Tahir seem to be playing similar roles, which has led to stagnation in the middle. Faheem Ashraf, potentially, could have balanced the side a bit, but hasn't been given a go. And the quick bowlers have struggled to control the flow. India took apart Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf. Naseem Shah has been better, but has looked below his best. Abrar Ahmed has bowled one great delivery that was overshadowed by his celebration.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh haven't been too different, bar their quick bowling. Their batting has been one-dimensional, and not been able to go through the gears, with the lower order having to bail them out.
Their top order caved in against India, while Michael Bracewell's offspin got rid of their middle order in the other game. Najmul Hossain Shanto showed form against New Zealand, while Jaker Ali has been consistent - they might have to do even more against Pakistan. As is the case with Towhid Hridoy, who scored an impressive century against India.
Wasim Jaffer and Shane Bond on why Bangladesh's big guns have underdelivered in ICC tournaments
But they will want veterans Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah to sign off from what could be their last ICC game with a bang and not a whimper. Their lack of fire has been disappointing to see, though, in Mahmudullah's case, it's just been one match and one failure.
Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana have to do the heavy lifting again on Thursday, with Mustafizur Rahman continuing to be steady without being spectacular. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Rishad Hossain, the lead spinners, have a lot to do, too, especially in Rawalpindi where they should have a more central role.
Pak players drop in ICC rankings
Pakistan players have experienced a significant drop in the latest ICC rankings following their poor performances in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Fakhar Zaman, who was initially ruled out of the tournament but made a comeback during the tri-nation ODI series, has fallen three places to 17th in the ICC ODI Batters' rankings. He now has 621 rating points.
Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan's white-ball captain, scored just three runs against New Zealand and 46 against India. His lack of significant contributions has caused him to drop four places, from 16th to 20th, with 616 points.
Saim Ayub, who has been out of action due to injury, dropped eight places to 35th with 572 points after a long absence from international cricket.
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