Pakistan cricketers under pressure to deliver ICC trophy, Fakhar Zaman admits

The Pakistan cricket team faces mounting pressure to win an ICC trophy as their quest for a major international title enters its tenth year. Batsman Fakhar Zaman has admitted that the team is under significant pressure to finally deliver an ICC trophy and end the country's long wait for such a success.

Pakistan's next major opportunity to win an ICC title will come in 2027 when they host the 50-over World Cup, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. The country has not won an ICC event since 2017, with their closest recent finish coming in the 2022 T20 World Cup where they lost the final to England.

Fakhar acknowledged that while the team is aware of the public disappointment surrounding their inability to win an ICC title, individual players strive to perform at their best and improve their craft. He noted that when a team performs well, people shower them with love and admiration, and conversely, when they underperform, natural disappointment sets in.

Fakhar emphasized that the team is taking the pressure seriously and is doing their best to improve. The upcoming tri-series against England and Sri Lanka will be used to test different team combinations to build a perfect lineup for the World Cup. Most of the players have already played domestic cricket, making the transition to international matches easier.

Although Fakhar acknowledged Pakistan's recent struggles against England in the recent Test series, he downplayed the issue, stating that red-ball and white-ball cricket are fundamentally different. He highlighted the significant changes in the team composition and expressed hope and excitement for the upcoming World Cup, noting that preparations are progressing well.