Pakistan cricket team makes low-key return to Islamabad after Champions Trophy setback

After a disappointing start to the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy, Pakistans cricket team ended its campaign in an even more dismal fashion, returning to Islamabad from Dubai after suffering a crushing defeat against India in a crucial match.

The national team’s flight from Dubai first landed in Lahore, where PCB Chairman Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, board officials, and a few others disembarked. The plane then continued its journey to Islamabad, where the rest of the squad arrived.

According to sources, an unusual silence filled the aircraft throughout the journey, with players barely speaking to each other.

Following the one-sided defeat against India in Dubai on Sunday, the team appeared visibly dejected, as reported by Geo News.

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PCB Chairman Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, who had traveled from Karachi to Dubai on a special flight with the team, had initially been in high spirits.

Naqvi had invited the players to dinner in Dubai and even visited the stadium the night before the India match to boost their morale. However, after the defeat, everything seemed to have changed. His demeanor lacked the warmth and enthusiasm he had displayed earlier.

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With losses against both New Zealand and India, Pakistan, the host and defending champion, has been eliminated from the tournament. Any faint hope of a comeback was extinguished on Monday when New Zealand defeated Bangladesh.

Despite their elimination, Pakistan will play its final group match against Bangladesh on February 27 in Rawalpindi.

Meanwhile, India and New Zealand have secured their spots in the semi-finals from Group A.