Babar Azam set to announce retirement? Ex-Pakistan star makes bombshell claim

Former Pakistan National Cricket Team player Rashid Latif has dropped a massive statement after the team's defeat to India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He announced that a big player of the Mohammad Rizwan-led side will be announcing his retirement in the coming days.

Rashid Latif's comments came on the TV show, where he claimed that, as per his sources, big retirement news from the Pakistan National Cricket Team will be coming out soon.

Although he didn't reveal the name of the player, he mentioned that he would be breaking the news soon.

Tabish Hashmi is claiming that within a few days, Rashid Latif will announce the retirement of a big player. pic.twitter.com/O0Sp4h7UBF

— 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞 (@CallMeSheri1) February 24, 2025

Some of the key players of the team are under pressure for their poor performances

For unversed, some of the key players of the Pakistan National Cricket Team are under pressure for their poor performances across the formats. The likes of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf have been receiving a lot of flak.

Things got even worse for them after the Mohammad Rizwan-led side suffered a thumping loss against the India National Cricket Team in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The hosts faced a horrible 6-wicket loss at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Sunday.

Babar Azam, Mohammed Rizwan, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah failed to make an impact against India inthe ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Star players Babar Azam, Mohammed Rizwan, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah failed to make an impact, and it was a major reason behind their loss. Babar (23), and Rizwan (47) struggled to score big while the pacer battery went for a lot of runs, with Rauf and Naseem going wicketless.

Pakistan National Cricket Team, who won the toss and opted to bat first, got all out for just 240 runs. With the ball then, barring Abrar Ahmed, no bowler looked threatening as Virat Kohli racked up a magnificent century to take his team home with over 7 overs to spare.

Things surely are not at all right in the Pakistan Cricket. Since the last three tournaments, they haven't made any big mark. They faced group stage exit in the ICC World Cup 2023, and then the same fate unfolded for them in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Pakistan's qualification for the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will depend on how other teams perform

With Pakistan being the host of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, it was expected that they would do something special. However, that hasn't been the case, as they have been almost eliminated from the tournament within the first five days.

Pakistan's qualification for the semi-final will depend on how other teams perform. If New Zealand National Cricket Team goes on to defeat the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in the ongoing game, then Mohammad Rizwan-led will be eliminated from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Watch: Kane Williamson gets rid of Towhid Hridoy with sensational catch in BAN vs NZ CT 2025 match