There was no place for senior batsman Babar Azam in the T20 side while Rizwan was also left out of a young squad as Pakistan look ahead to the T20 Asia Cup in September and next year's T20 World Cup.

The ex-wicketkeeper's comments follow Pakistan’s Champions Trophy disaster

The title-holders lost their opening game to New Zealand by 60 runs in Karachi last week before Sunday's six-wicket defeat to arch-rivals India pushed them to the brink of an early exit.

"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," Shahid Afridi told AFP.

Ramiz’s remarks may spark debate over whether fixture sequencing had a genuine impact on their campaign, or if their performances were simply not up to the mark. Regardless, their premature exit from the Champions Trophy will be a tough pill to swallow for the hosts and their fans.

In a video on social media, the former Pakistan speedster said he was well aware in advance that Pakistan was going to lose to India. He blamed “clueless management” for Pakistan’s poor performance.

Basit also slammed the PCB for having focused on making a statement as the host nation rather than building a strong team for the tournament.

Reports from ESPNcricinfo and Deccan Herald suggest that the PCB is unhappy that the word “Pakistan” was missing from the broadcast logo in the top-left corner -- something that had been visible in other matches.

Andy Pycroft of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after Mohammad Rizwan’s side was ruled to be one over short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

Zaman sprained a chest muscle while fielding at the start of Pakistan's game against New Zealand in Karachi on Wednesday, which the hosts lost by 60 runs.

In what will be Pakistan’s first ICC tournament played on home soil since 1996, there is a lot on the line for this team.

The Champions Trophy is the first major cricket event hosted by Pakistan in nearly three decades and is regarded as second only to the World Cup in the one-day game.

Can captain Mohammad Rizwan and his side overcome the intense scrutiny that will follow their campaign?

It will be the first major global tournament hosted by Pakistan in nearly 30 years and former batting great Inzamam Ul Haq told Reuters there was no escaping the excitement in the lead-up to the event.

The Champions Trophy, which kicks off next week, comes to Pakistan as the country battles two insurgencies and a political crisis that has sent its former prime minister and greatest cricket hero, Imran Khan, to jail.

Asked about Babar's future, Shan told the BBC's 'Stumped' podcast on Saturday: "I think he's one of the best batsmen in the world. I'm nobody to deny him a future. He has every quality to be one of the greatest batsmen in Test cricket.

Rizwan was appointed captain of limited over formats on Sunday, replacing Babar Azam who had two turns in the post but wasn't able to allay a run of disastrous tournament performances.

Rizwan will take over from Babar Azam, who stepped down from the position at the beginning of this month.

"Everybody goes and looks at the wicket and everybody says something different," England batsman Harry Brook told reporters.

The 152-run victory was Pakistan's first home win since February 2021 and came after they were thumped by an innings in the first Test on the same Multan pitch.