Pakistan Cricket Team Returns to Islamabad in Silence After ICC Champions Trophy Defeat

Following their defeat to India in the ICC Champions Trophy, the Pakistan cricket team quietly arrived in Islamabad after a stopover in Lahore. The return journey was marked by an unusual silence, with players avoiding conversations among themselves. The once lively atmosphere during their flight to Dubai, which included laughter and chatter, was noticeably absent.

The flight from Dubai to Lahore saw Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, and other officials disembark before the plane continued its journey to Islamabad, where the team landed. The mood was somber, with players’ faces downcast and a palpable sense of disappointment following the crushing loss to India on Sunday.

Mohsin Raza Naqvi, who had previously flown to Dubai with the team in high spirits, had even invited the players for dinner the night before the India match to boost their morale. However, after the loss, the atmosphere had completely changed. There was no warmth in the interactions, and the smiles that had previously accompanied their travel were gone.

Following the defeats to New Zealand and India, Pakistan’s hopes of progressing in the ICC Champions Trophy were dashed, and the defending champions were eliminated from the tournament.

The Pakistan cricket team will play their final group match against Bangladesh on February 27 in Rawalpindi. Meanwhile, India and New Zealand have qualified for the semi-finals from Group A.