Pakistan, which was led by Mohammad Rizwan, was eliminated from the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 after New Zealand defeated Bangladesh by five wickets in their Group A match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday. Pakistan’s prospects of reaching the final four were contingent upon Bangladesh’s ability to defeat the fervent Kiwis, following their loss to India in a critical match in Dubai.
There was no space for an upset, given the manner in which New Zealand was performing. The BlackCaps secured their second Champions Trophy victory with minimal effort.
Bangladesh’s participation in the tournament was also terminated by the loss, as India and New Zealand secured their spots in the semi-finals from Group A. The team that finishes at the top of the division will be determined by the match between India and New Zealand on March 2.
New Zealand will play their semi-final at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore on March 5, while India will play theirs in Dubai on March 4.
After a 29-year hiatus, Pakistan is now hosting an ICC event. Nevertheless, the national cricket team was unable to transform the event into a joyous occasion for the fans, as their performance on the field raised a number of concerns.
The tournament for Pakistan commenced with a disappointing outcome, as the team was unable to surpass New Zealand’s score of 321 in Karachi. Babar Azam’s performance with the bat was subjected to intense scrutiny due to his lack of intent, as he managed to score 64 runs off 90 deliveries.
In the midst, Khushdil Shah and Salman Ali Agha made their best efforts. However, it was too late, and in the end, New Zealand emerged victorious, placing Pakistan under significant duress.
The match against India was deemed essential for victory. The proceedings transpired in a similar manner to Pakistan’s dismal record against the arch-rival in ICC events.
Pakistan’s dismal performance in the match against India
Following criticism for their performance against New Zealand, it was anticipated that Pakistan would demonstrate increased intent and aggression in both their bat and ballplay. Babar’s initial start suggested that the team was contemplating a return to the drafting board and implementing the requisite modifications.
Nevertheless, this new intention was not sustained for an extended period. Mohammad Rizwan encountered difficulty in rotating the strike during the middle-overs, resulting in India’s consistent participation in the game. Pakistan was restricted to a mere 241 runs, as wickets fell in a flash toward the conclusion.
Virat Kohli then delivered a masterclass against an opponent he relishes, leaving Pakistan once more bereft of answers. The pace triumvirate of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf were struck throughout the stadium. Shubman Gill was bowled by Abrar Ahmed through a searing leg-spinner, which did demonstrate some determination; however, that was the extent of his efforts.
Pakistan was doomed from the moment they suffered a six-wicket defeat to India. Even Mohammad Rizwan acknowledged that the tournament was nearly concluded prior to Pakistan’s official elimination 24 hours later.
