Pakistan had very high hopes concerning their Champions Trophy destiny. Hosting the ICC tournament for the first time and not only in their history, they were also defending champions with the tournament returning after almost eight years. However, very quickly, within a span of five days, their campaign came to a disappointing and early end, with the Mohammad Rizwan-led side losing their opening two matches in Group A and crash out of the semifinals race.
Then the rains put paid to their chances of a consolation victory as their final group match, against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Thursday, was a complete washout. For the first time in Champions Trophy history, a host nation has finished the tournament without a single win.
Heads will roll after this miserable campaign, with calls already for the removal of several players from the current ODI setup and the indenture of younger players who can deliver fearless cricket.
Pakistan is hosting an ICC event after 29 years. The home fans, however, got to see their national team play only once – against New Zealand in the opener. Due to the Hybrid Model rules for this edition, their second match against India was played in Dubai, while their third against Bangladesh was washed out before the toss due to weather.
There is a little consolation available for the hosts.
The ICC has also increased the prize fund by 53 percent. The pool is up to USD 6.9 million, with the winner getting USD 2.24 million, while the runners-up get USD 1.12 million.
Teams that did not qualify after the group stage will each get USD 1,40,000 in addition to a USD 1,25,000 base guarantee.
Pakistan, England, and Bangladesh are the teams officially out of the semifinals race – each team will thus get USD 2,65,000 (INR 2,31,57,635.32).
The Pakistan team is all geared up for its big return to all the Whites next month, when its white ball tour of New Zealand will kick off with five Twenty/Twenty and three one-day internationals.
