Imran Khan has expressed disappointment over Pakistan’s Champions Trophy exit, blaming the leadership in the cricket administration while former PCB Najam Sethi held Imran Khan responsible for the sport’s decline due to his overhaul of domestic cricket.

After the humiliating campaign, it is reported that interim captain Aaqib Javed is reportedly to be sacked from the position.

Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan has said that the former was upset about Pakistan’s defeat to India. After meeting the former Prime Minister at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

Aleema revealed that Imran was upset over Pakistan’s below-par performance against their arch-rivals against their arch-rivals in Dubai.

“The PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) founder expressed great sadness over losing the match against India,” said Aleema adding that the legendary cricketer watched the match in jail.

Pakistan suffered a six wicket victory in a one-sided contest in Dubai. Virat Kohli hit a well paced hundred as India comfortable chased down on a 241-run target.

Despite much hype, the contests failed to live up to expectations as they failed to impress in all three departments. With the bat, they lacked the intensity to put pressure on Indian bowlers.

Imran Khan also questioned the capabilities of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi, expressing his disappointment with the current regime’s appointments to top positions in cricket administration.

“Imran said cricket will eventually be destroyed when favourites are put in decision-making positions,” Aleema added.

In the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, Pakistan won only four out of nine matches finishing fifth and missing out on the semi-finals. They also suffered a early exit in 2024 T20 World Cup after suffering a defeat against USA.

Former PCB chairman Najam Sethi believes that Pakistan’s decline started in 2019 under Imran Khan’s leadership.

In 2019, under Imran’s directive, the PCB overhauled the domestic cricket structure, replacing the long standing system of 16-18 departmental and regional association sides with a six team first class competition.

“The downfall started in 2019 when a new management under a new PM/Patron changed the domestic cricket structure that had served Pakistan reasonably well for decades and replaced it with an ill-suited Australian hybrid model.”

“Political interference continued; contradictory PCB policies became the norm-foreign coaches were hired and sent packing, selectors were whimsically nominated, old discards were recruited to mentor and manage.”

“Finally, player power, clash of captain egos and groupings in the team came to prevail over fumbling managements! The horrible result is before us,” Sethi said.

Pakistan’s final group stage match will be played against Bangladesh on February 27 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.