Ex-Pakistan Spinner Dares India To Do This After Champions Trophy 2025 Debacle

Despite Pakistan’s early exit from the Champions Trophy 2025, the fans and the former players are yet to accept the weakness against India, who has again qualified for another semifinal of an ICC tournament. The blue brigade will face one of Australia and South Africa in the first semifinal at the Dubai International Stadium on February 04.

On the other hand, the Mohammad Rizwan-led side, despite being in top form in the last few months with consecutive three series victories in Australia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, got knocked out of the eight-team event with two defeats in the first two successive games against New Zealand and India.

Pakistan’s rough-journey in the Champions Trophy 2025

The selection was pointless from the Green Brigade in the tournament. Once their young and aggressive opening batter, Saim Ayub, got ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury, the entire balance of the side was destroyed. The management decided to open with their former captain, Babar Azam, before they lost the services of Fakhar Zaman in the opening clash due to a fatal accident.

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Pakistan was never in the 321-run chase against the Kiwis at the National Stadium in Karachi, as Babar played a very surprising knock of 64 runs in 90 deliveries at a strike rate of around 70. The surface wasn’t as hard as he made it look. Salman Ali Agha and Khusdil Shah’s cracking knocks were proof of that.

The opening defeat against the Mitchell Santer-led side pushed the defending champions into a do-or-die situation of winning against India in Dubai. Despite a decent start with the bat, they couldn’t collect rewards with the bat, as the slowest third wicket-century stand since 2014 never allowed them to put pressure on the opponents.

Virat Kohli’s century led the 2013 winners over the line to confirm a semifinal spot in the event. Apart from Abrar Ahmed, none of Pakistan’s pacers or spinners were able to earn wickets and keep pressure on the Indian batting line-up.

Saqlain Mushtaq challenges India to schedule multi-format series

Following Pakistan’s early exit in the tournament, the former spinner, Saqlain Mushtaq, has challenged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to schedule a multi-format series. He feels such a series will provide clarity on which side is better between them.

“If we keep political things aside, their players are outstanding, and they have been playing good cricket. I think let’s play 10 Tests, 10 ODIs, and 10 T20Is against Pakistan. If you are a good team, then everything will become clear.” Mushtaq expressed this during an interaction on the 24 News HD channel.

“If we get our preparation right and sort out things in the right direction, then we will be in a situation where we can give solid answers to the world and India as well.” The former off-spinner addressed.

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The last bilateral series between the two sides took place in 2012 in India.

Pakistan’s constant struggles in ICC tournaments

The performance of Pakistan in the ICC tournaments has been a major shock. Since winning the 2017 Champions Trophy, the Green Brigade has not enjoyed much success in the competitions. They became the runners-up of the 2022 T20 World Cup, but since then, they have done nothing in the 2023 ODI World Cup, 2024 T20 World Cup, and 2025 Champions Trophy.

The former Indian captain and opener, Sunil Gavaskar, opined that the only way to arrange a series between these two neighbors is when there is peace at the borders.