Champions Trophy 2025: Ex-India cricketer slams PCB after Australia-South Africa game in Rawalpindi gets washed out

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after the ICC Champions Trophy Group B match between Australia and South Africa ended in washout on Tuesday. Kaif, who represented India in 13 Tests and 125 ODIs, criticised the Mohsin Naqvi-led PCB for their inability to cover the entire playing area at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where the match was called off on Tuesday without a ball bowled.

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“It’s a shame that the Rawalpindi ground isn’t fully covered. Such an important match - SA vs Aus - might go down the drain because no one addressed this issue. Was the ICC money utilised wisely by hosts?” Kaif wrote on X on Tuesday.

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It's a shame that the Rawalpindi ground isn't fully covered. Such an important match - SA vs Aus - might go down the drain because no one addressed this issue. Was the ICC money utilised wisely by hosts? pic.twitter.com/nPwthd1fji

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) February 25, 2025

BCCI’s Rajeev Shukla also reacts to Rawalpindi washout

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla too commented on the washout, though he did not take aim at the PCB with regards to its venues for the mega event.

“We missed a big game today Australia versus South Africa because of rains in Rawalpindi. Both the teams are very strong. It would have been a fantastic nail biting match,” Shukla wrote on X.

South Africa and Australia shared points as a result of the washout, and currently occupy the top two spots in Group after beating Afghanistan and England respectively last week. Afghanistan and England lock horns later on Wednesday with the loser set to be eliminated .

Tuesday’s match was the first game that did not have a result so far in the ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy that got underway on 19 February.

As we wait out the rain in Rawalpindi 🏏, the Proteas enjoy a simple card game ♣️🃏♦️.#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #ChampionsTrophy #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/8DA3CjS1d5

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) February 25, 2025

Kaif’s comments, however, isn’t the first time the PCB is facing flak over the state of its venues for the Champions Trophy . The board had been facing a deluge of criticism with regards to its preparedness for the mega event over the last couple of months.

Venues such as Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and Karachi’s National Stadium had undergone extensive renovation and construction work, which was originally scheduled to be completed by 31 December, had concluded just days before the tournament got underway.

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is the first global event taking place in Pakistan since the 1996 World Cup, which Pakistan had co-hosted with India and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka had defeated Australia in the final that took place in Lahore to win their first major title.