NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s early exit from the Champions Trophy has sparked strong criticism, with former captain Shahid Afridi calling for a complete overhaul of the team’s approach and mindset.
The hosts and defending champions were knocked out in the group stage after losses to New Zealand and India, marking a disappointing end to their first major international tournament at home in nearly 30 years.
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Afridi, known for his aggressive style during his playing days, believes Pakistan’s failure stems from their outdated approach.
“In 2025, Pakistan was playing the cricket style of the 1980s and 1990s while other teams had progressed well to adopt an aggressive and modern style,” he told AFP. “The ailment of playing too many dot balls also hurt our game.”

Pakistan struggled with strike rotation in both defeats, consuming 152 dot balls while scoring 241 against India and 162 dot balls in their total of 260 against New Zealand. Their slow start against India saw them play a record 28 dot balls in the first six overs, putting them on the back foot early.
Afridi stressed that Pakistan’s players lacked the attacking mindset needed in modern cricket. “The mindset of Pakistan players does not match modern-day cricket,” he said. “We need a complete overhaul of the system so that we can produce players with an aggressive approach.”
Although Pakistan still have a match remaining against Bangladesh, their semi-final hopes are over, leaving fans and former players calling for significant changes to the team’s strategy.