Pakistan failed to make any impact in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, crashing out of the tournament without securing a single win. While much of the blame has been directed at their fragile batting and ineffective bowling, another major issue went under the radar—their disastrous fielding performance. Pakistan has never been known as an elite fielding side, but this tournament was a new low. Official statistics reveal that Pakistan had the worst catch efficiency (60%) among all participating teams, exposing a long-standing weakness that has haunted them in major ICC events.
Pakistan managed to take only six catches while dropping four—the worst ratio in the 2025 Champions Trophy. These missed chances allowed opposition batters to capitalize, turning games further against them.
On the other hand, New Zealand topped the rankings with a remarkable 91% catch efficiency, taking 31 catches while dropping just three. Their sharpness in the field played a crucial role in their run to the final, emphasizing how seizing key moments can define a team’s success.
Catch Efficiency Rankings (ICC Champions Trophy 2025)
| Rank | Team | Catches | Dropped | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand | 31 | 3 | 91% |
| 2 | South Africa | 20 | 4 | 83% |
| 3 | Australia | 16 | 5 | 76% |
| 4 | Afghanistan | 12 | 4 | 75% |
| 5 | England | 11 | 4 | 73% |
| 6 | India | 21 | 8 | 72% |
| 7 | Bangladesh | 6 | 3 | 67% |
| 8 | Pakistan | 6 | 4 | 60% |
Pakistan’s catching issues are nothing new. Dropped chances have played a key role in some of their most painful defeats, including semi-final exits in major ICC tournaments. Time and again, poor fielding has been the difference between winning and losing on the biggest stage.
With the Champions Trophy campaign ending in disappointment, Pakistan’s team management must address these deep-rooted fielding concerns. In modern cricket, where every half-chance can turn a game, they can no longer afford to be this sloppy if they want to compete with the best.
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