Former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja criticizes Pakistan’s Champions Trophy scheduling, arguing that starting against New Zealand added unnecessary pressure on the team, ultimately hurting their campaign.
Islamabad [Pakistan], February 24: Pakistan’s title defence in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is hanging by a thread, and former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja believes poor scheduling played a major role in their struggles.
In the wake of Pakistan’s crushing six-wicket defeat to India in Dubai, Ramiz questioned why Pakistan chose to begin their campaign against New Zealand rather than Bangladesh, suggesting that a different schedule could have eased pressure on the team.
“I wonder why Pakistan played their first match against New Zealand. They should have played against Bangladesh first. Even though Bangladesh is a strong side, it was still a comparatively easier match for them,” Ramiz said on his YouTube channel.
Pakistan’s Semi-Final Hopes Dwindling
After back-to-back losses—a 60-run defeat to New Zealand followed by a humbling loss to India, Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals now rest on external results. One unfavorable outcome could see them crash out in the group stage.
Ramiz suggested that starting with Bangladesh or even India would have kept the pressure balanced among Group A teams, instead of giving New Zealand an early advantage.
“Pakistan’s loss to New Zealand created unnecessary pressure. If they had played against Bangladesh or India first, the pressure would have been equally spread. Instead, losing to New Zealand made things difficult, and then facing India under extra pressure was always going to be tough,” he added.
Kohli’s Brilliance Seals Pakistan’s Fate
Pakistan’s must-win clash against India turned into a nightmare as Virat Kohli once again delivered a masterclass in chasing under pressure.
Nicknamed the ‘Chase Master’, Virat single-handedly dismantled Pakistan’s bowling attack, scoring an unbeaten 100 off 111 balls. His knock not only ensured India’s six-wicket victory but also made him the fastest batter to reach 14,000 ODI runs.
With one flawless stroke, Kohli found the boundary rope to celebrate his 51st ODI century and India’s dominant win with several overs to spare.
“Kohli’s Knock Had Everything”—Ramiz Raja
Ramiz showered praise on Kohli’s composure and dominance, admitting that Pakistan simply had no answer to his brilliance.
“Virat’s knock had everything—calmness, aggression, and perfect game awareness. He maintained the chase beautifully. He challenged himself and played with confidence against every bowler, never allowing anyone to settle. He was a complete package today,” Ramiz concluded.
With India almost securing their semi-final berth, Pakistan now faces an uphill battle to stay alive in the tournament. Their fate now depends on Bangladesh’s result against New Zealand, making their campaign even more uncertain.
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