LAHORE: Pakistan, who is hosting the Champions Trophy tournament after 29 years, ended up as the first team to be eliminated. Pakistan were almost on the brink of elimination after losing the first match to New Zealand but the second match to arch-rivals India nearly closed all their chances.

In yesterday’s match, New Zealand defeated Bangladesh to dash all the remaining hopes of Pakistan. The humiliation of the host team getting eliminated first was too much to bear for the former legends of the game. They didn’t hold back.

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram criticized the slow batting of the Pakistan team and also blamed the bowlers for not taking wickets at regular intervals.

“Those vainglorious bowlers could manage only 24 wickets in both the champions trophy and the earlier tri-series. The bowling average is 60 runs. It is a shame. You made them stars. In the last five ODIs, Pakistan's bowlers have managed to take only 24 wickets at an average of 60 runs. Our average is even below America and Oman, who are novices in cricket. Pakistan has the second-worst bowling average among the 14 ODI-playing nations." said Wasim Akram.

Akram demanded a new team be prepared for the 2026 Twenty20 World Cup. "Fearless young cricketers should be brought into the team. If you can make five or six changes in the team, please do."

Pakistan's remaining match is against Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy on Thursday. The team's interim coach Aquib Javed and the supporting staff will reportedly relinquish their post after the Champions Trophy.