-
-
Pakistan head coach Aaqib Javed has attributed the team’s poor performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 “due to a lack of experience among the players”.
Speaking ahead of Pakistan’s final group game against Bangladesh, Javed acknowledged that his side struggled under pressure due to its inexperienced squad.
“Experience matters in big games,” Javed said. “India’s team has played over 1,500 matches collectively, while Pakistan’s players have played around 400. That’s a huge difference.”
He pointed out that Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi are the only experienced players, while most others have played fewer than 30 matches.
“When Pakistan faces India, it’s more than just a game. Our players lacked the experience to handle that pressure,” he added.
READ: Champions Trophy 2025: Virat Kohli seals Victory with brilliant century against Pakistan
Javed refused to blame any single player for the team’s poor performance.
“After a loss, people look for someone to blame, but we already have the most experienced squad available,” he explained. “Babar is our most dependable batsman, and our bowling attack is world-class. It was just an off day,” he added.
While India played all its matches in Dubai, Javed dismissed the idea that venue familiarity caused Pakistan’s downfall.
“There is an advantage in playing at the same venue, but we didn’t lose because of that. There were other reasons,” he said.
Javed emphasized that Pakistan will not make hasty decisions but will focus on ending the tournament on a high note with a victory against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi.
