Former Pakistan coach believes Pakistan missed opportunity by excluding several players in Champions Trophy 2025

Former Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie believes that the inclusion of young batter Irfan Khan Niazi and left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem could have given Pakistan a much-needed boost during the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 

In a recent interview, Gillespie praised the 25-year-old Sufiyan Muqeem, describing him as a talented player with great potential who could play a key role in Pakistan's future if provided with the right opportunities.

"Sufiyan Muqeem is a very talented cricketer. If given the right chances, he could become a valuable asset for Pakistan cricket. In his short international career, he has already shown that he has the skills and temperament to perform at the highest level," Gillespie said.

Muqeem, who made his international debut last year, impressed experts with his controlled bowling and ability to take crucial wickets under pressure. His performances in the bilateral series against Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa earned him praise for his maturity, especially considering his young age.

However, Gillespie expressed disappointment that the selectors had not included Muqeem in the Champions Trophy squad. 

"Leaving him (Sufiyan Muqeem) out and only taking one proper spinner into the Champions Trophy was a clear mistake," he said.

Pakistan's campaign in the Champions Trophy 2025 has been disappointing. The team suffered losses to both New Zealand and India, leading to their early exit from the tournament.

Pakistan, the 2017 Champions Trophy winners under the captaincy of Sarfaraz Ahmed, began their defense of the title against New Zealand. However, they struggled, having already lost to the Black Caps twice in a recent tri-nation ODI series that also involved South Africa.

On Monday, New Zealand secured their place in the semifinals, along with India, after defeating Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. Both teams earned four points from their two victories.

Pakistan’s hopes of qualifying for the semifinals were dashed after another defeat, this time against India in Dubai. The team's batting collapsed once again, and with the help of a brilliant century from Virat Kohli, Pakistan fell short by six wickets. With two losses in the group stage, Pakistan's qualification hopes were were reliant on results from other Group A matches. However, New Zealand's win over Bangladesh officially ended Pakistan's campaign.