Aaqib Javed blames fast bowlers for Pakistan’s struggles in Champions Trophy

Pakistan’s interim head coach, Aqib Javed, discussed the team’s disappointing performance in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, attributing their struggles to the fast bowlers’ inability to meet expectations.

In a media conference held in Lahore on Tuesday, Aqib pointed the lack of bowling pressure as a major factor in Pakistan’s defeats, particularly in their game against arch-rivals India. Despite the team’s preparations, the fast bowlers failed to produce the necessary reverse swing, a key component in conditions like Karachi and Dubai.

“The two places you get the most reverse swing are Karachi and Dubai, and unfortunately, our bowlers couldn’t capitalize on that,” Aqib said. 

“I have spoken to Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi, and I’ve asked them to go back and work on their skill sets,” he added. 

The former Pakistan pacer further reflected on the team’s past successes, noting that Pakistan had previously beaten India by taking wickets and building pressure, something they failed to do in their recent encounters.

“In the past, we’ve always beaten India by taking wickets and applying pressure,” Aqib said. 

“This team had the ability to beat India, but the pressure of the match got to them,” Aqib added. 

Aqib acknowledged the growing frustration surrounding Pakistan's poor performance, especially after their defeats in both last year’s T20 World Cup and the ongoing Champions Trophy. He emphasized the difficulty of playing against India, calling it a high-pressure game that is especially challenging for new players.

“Playing against India is never easy. It’s always a high-pressure game, and it’s tough for new players to handle,” Aqib explained. 

“I understand the hurt and frustration, but we need to remember that you can’t judge a player or a team based on one or two series. Consistency and patience are key,” he further added.

While acknowledging the team’s recent setbacks, Aqib pointed out that Pakistan had shown promising form before the Champions Trophy, notably winning ODI series in Australia and South Africa. However, he admitted that the team’s selections had not paid off as expected, with New Zealand and India proving to be more balanced and confident teams.

“We did show promise with series wins in Australia and South Africa, but our selections didn’t come through as we had hoped,” he said. 

“We have to accept that New Zealand and India were better balanced and more confident,” he concluded. 

Pakistan’s campaign in the Champions Trophy has been disappointing, with the team failing to win a single match. They became the first team to be knocked out of the tournament despite being the hosts. Pakistan suffered back-to-back defeats to New Zealand and India, with the final group-stage match against Bangladesh being washed out due to rain.