Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 adventure is turning into a nightmare with the hosts at the door of elimination. The two consecutive losses to New Zealand and India have left Pakistan in a hopeless state where their fate is no longer in their control. Their qualification now depends on other Group A results, making the team and fans wait in suspense.
In the middle of this crisis, former Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Hafeez made a shocking and dramatic statement about the team selection procedure for the tournament. Formerly the Director of the Pakistan National Cricket Team, Hafeez claimed that national selectors used artificial intelligence (AI) to seal the list, something that leaves him baffled.
Talking on a local TV program, Hafeez faulted the rationale in choosing, asking how AI was utilized in compiling the team. “This is selected by using artificial intelligence (AI). They claim to have a statistician, they know to select teams. But we know all things. They select players by using AI. First, go and look up your name on AI,” Mohammad Hafeez said in a sarcastic tone.
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The past all-rounder also had some disappointment about Pakistan’s opening pair, believing that the choice of Imam-ul-Haq’s opening partner felt more like a lucky draw rather than a good plan.
As Fakhar Zaman was out due to injury, Pakistan brought Imam-ul-Haq back in but instead of getting him an alternative specialist opener, they stuck with Babar Azam at the top. Hafeez disagreed with this approach, claiming Pakistan did not select the correct opening partner for Imam.
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Furthermore, Mohammad Hafeez believed that Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Salman Ali Agha should have batted in the middle order, ideally from positions three to five, rather than altering the top order. “It is a toss-up for picking Imam’s partner. My mind cannot comprehend the team selection logic. I’ve thought about it a lot, but at this point, they might as well toss a coin,” he concluded.
As Pakistan struggles to find its future in the tournament, Hafeez’s harsh criticism has added to the pressures surrounding the management and selection processes of the team.
