In recent ICC tournaments, the Pakistan cricket team has often found itself at the mercy of others’ results, needing a series of improbable outcomes to secure a spot in the knockout stages. But as the country hosts a major ICC tournament after almost three decades, expectations were high this time.

Security forces in Pakistan are on ‘high alert’ following an intelligence warning of a potential abduction plot targeting foreign guests at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The alert, reported by CNN-News18,

After waiting for close to three decades to host a major ICC tournament, Pakistan fans saw their hopes dashed inside one week of the Champions Trophy following another emphatic and embarrassing defeat,