New Delhi: Pakistanis have already conceded defeat in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy. They even want the game to be done away with. The ‘world’s greatest rivalry’ has become boring. It is now a “salana beizzati (annual humiliation),” disappointed Pakistani fans are saying after a frustrating loss against arch-rivals India.
For some, the repeated defeats have made the rivalry feel like a hollow tradition rather than a fierce contest.
“I really fail to understand the hype around India vs Pakistan anymore, chalo humaray end se theek hai rivalry ye wo india ko kya maza araha hai yaar aisi bakwas team ko maaray ja rahay hain itnay saalon se matlab boring hogaya hai same result everytime,” an X user wrote.
And yet, within Pakistan, the feeling of defeat and disappointment remains palpable.
“When I die, I want the Pakistan Cricket Team to be at my funeral and carry my coffin, so they can let me down one last time,” said a person on X.
Analysts and statisticians too are hopeless.
“False sense of supremacy is one of the biggest reasons behind Pakistan’s poor performances in global events. Most teams these days play bilateral cricket on an experimental basis. Pakistan, by winning those games believe they don’t need any improvements,” cricket statistician Mazher Arshad wrote.
Former cricketer Shoaib Malik was too lost for words. He chose to sing: “Dil ke armaan aansuon mein beh gaye”.
Babar and the state of Pakistan cricket
While initially, angry fans could not get over Babar Azam’s performance, the internal dynamics within Pakistan’s cricketing infrastructure have also been brought into focus. Some even blamed the Pakistan Army.
“Pakistan cricket team never recovered after spending a week at Kakul,” cricket commentator Mufaddal Vohra wrote.
“The state of cricket in Pakistan is a reflection of how callously its governing body has been managed and run. Little hope of any real change despite dismal performances in three ICC tournaments consecutively. Too many egos at the top and within the team,” Hassan Akbar, Pakistan fellow at Wilson Center, wrote.
Amid these frustrations, fans are asking: How will this rivalry evolve in the future? Can it rediscover its intensity, or has it become a relic of the past?
Many believe that the essence of India-Pakistan cricket isn’t simply about who wins or loses. It’s about the unforgettable moments, the passionate debates, and the stories we pass down through generations.
“A rivalry that once defined generations now survives on ICC encounters. India-Pakistan isn’t just about who wins. It’s about the stories we tell for generations. But where are the new stories? No Indian player has toured Pakistan in over 16 years. What moments will Gen-Z fans remember? The greatest rivalry is losing its soul—no tours, no history being written. Cricket needs its greatest rivalry back in full force,” an Indian fan, Korah Abraham, said.
Pakistanis agreed. “I’m convinced Pakistan vs India isn’t rivalry anymore in fact ICC organize the match every year just to give us brand new heartbreak and trauma which we never get recovered from,” X user Haroon wrote.
Also read: Pakistanis slam Babar Azam for his ‘tuk-tuk cricket’. Call him SOAT, painfully slow
Kohli fans in Lahore
But the match had its moments—even if they don’t mean much to a majority of fans. The camaraderie and cheers did not go unnoticed. Virat Kohli helping Naseem Shah tie his shoelace went viral. So did a video of Kohli fans in Lahore cheering for his century. Mazher Arshad even shared a picture of a Kohli fan in Lahore.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani humour remained intact. Memes flooded the internet. The commentary went viral too.
“Team Pakistan always performs like their the side at the Mehndi who forgot to do dance practices until just the night before,” Sabah Bano Malik joked.
Sports journalist Faizan Lakhani said, “India should organize a bilateral series with Pakistan every time they feel Kohli is struggling with his form or not scoring much. Don’t worry – we’ll make sure Virat gets back in form.”
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)