Pakistan’s loss to India has nearly ended their Champions Trophy campaign at home, with a sluggish middle-overs performance proving costly. After reaching 52 for 2 in the first ten overs, they managed only 42 runs in the next 14. Former cricketer Urooj Mumtaz held captain Mohammad Rizwan responsible, citing his failure to rotate the strike effectively.
“Rizwan repeatedly consumes too many dot balls, then attempts a release shot,” Mumtaz said on ESPNcricinfo Match Day. “He was 30 off 68 at one point before hitting a four. Saud Shakeel isn’t the natural aggressor; Rizwan is expected to take charge when set.”
Between overs 11 and 24, Rizwan faced 45 balls, of which 29 were dots. He failed to hit a boundary and managed just 16 singles. He eventually fell for 46 off 77 balls, bowled while attempting to loft Axar Patel. Rizwan had slog-swept Kuldeep Yadav for four off his first ball but didn’t find another boundary until the 25th over. His 104-run stand with Shakeel took 144 balls, adding pressure on Pakistan’s innings.
Mumtaz pointed out that with Babar Azam struggling for form and Imam-ul-Haq run out, Rizwan needed to step up as captain. “His 46 off 77 at a strike rate of 59 wasn’t good enough,” she said. “Pakistan needed brave intent, not just survival. Poor strike rotation was a massive fault, and it also put extra pressure on Saud.”
Rizwan’s inability to keep the scoreboard ticking cost Pakistan momentum, ultimately contributing to their defeat.
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