Ahmed Shehzad trolls Mohammad Rizwan and Pakistan team after knockout from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Mohammad Rizwan and his men, despite being hosts, faced an early elimination from the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Ahmed Shehzad trolls Mohammad Rizwan and Pakistan team after knockout from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Rizwan (Via X)

Pakistan became the host of an ICC tournament after 29 years for the currently ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025. However, their performance on the field was dismal, as they were knocked out of the group stage after losing their first two matches against New Zealand and India. The final match against Bangladesh ended with both teams sharing one point as the match in Rawalpindi was abandoned due to rain.

The Men in Green have been subpar in the last few ICC tournaments. They also lost two of the three matches in the Tri-Series on home soil ahead of the Champions Trophy. There have been criticisms regarding the team selection and dirty politics that are playing behind the scenes.

YouTube video

Former Pakistan cricketers have heavily criticized the current lot on the respective TV channels that they have been sitting on. Ahmed Shehzad has taken a scathing indirect dig at captain Mohammad Rizwan and his team after their subpar performances in the Champions Trophy 2025. A video has gone viral, clearly showing Shehzad stating that the Pakistan team is just learning without winning.

Yaha pe learn hi learn hoyi jaa raha hai, win nahi na ho rana (It’s just learn and learn here, no win).

Ahmed Shehzad said in a chat with Vikrant Gupta and Mohammad Amir

This was an indirect dig to a comment that Rizwan made during the PSL, where he said, ‘ya toh win hai ya learn hai’ (either we win or learn).’ Mohammed Amir who was also present in the chat along with senior Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta, started to laugh at Shehzad’s remark.

Mohammad Rizwan pinpoints Saim Ayub’s injury as the main reason behind Pakistan’s elimination

Rizwan felt that the team’s combination was perfect ahead of the mega tournament at home. However, opener Saim Ayub, who was in top form, got injured ahead of the Champions Trophy, and that in turn crumbled the team’s combination.

Mohammad Rizwan, Virat Kohli
Mohammad Rizwan, Virat Kohli (Via X)

Fakhar Zaman, another aggressive opener, had to come out to bat at number four in the opening match against New Zealand. He had to bat through injury and after the game, he got ruled out for the rest of the Champions Trophy. That was also a big setback for Rizwan’s side.

We wanted to do well and perform well in front of our nation. The expectations are very high. We didn’t perform well and it is disappointing for us. The guy who has been performing for the last few months in Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe… the team was combined and then suddenly when someone is injured, the team will be disturbed,” he added in reference to Saim Ayub’s injury. As a captain, you can look forward to that as well. One side you can say that the team is disturbed, but this is no excuse. Yes, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub were injured, but we will learn from this.

Mohammad Rizwan said after the Pakistan vs Bangladesh game was abandoned

However, the Men in Green do have problems deeper in their cricketing circuit. They have not developed players who can come in and perform when a player is ruled out due to injury. Moreover, there were problems in the squad selection as well given they needed one more attacking spinner to partner Abrar Ahmed in the middle overs.