Synopsis
Pakistan's chances of advancing in the 2025 Champions Trophy are dwindling after a significant loss to India. Their future in the tournament now depends on other teams' results as they face a must-win scenario against Bangladesh.Key Takeaways
- Pakistan faces potential elimination from the Champions Trophy.
- They need favorable outcomes in other matches.
- Key match on Monday: New Zealand vs. Bangladesh.
- Net run rate could decide semi-final spots.
- Rohit Sharma's team currently leads Group A.
Dubai, Feb 23 (NationPress) Pakistan's dreams of reaching the semi-finals of the 2025 Champions Trophy are hanging by a thread following a six-wicket loss to India in their Group A encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Mohammad Rizwan's squad now finds itself at the bottom of the table, needing several results to go their way to keep their tournament aspirations alive.
A crucial match for Pakistan’s future will take place on Monday when New Zealand faces Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. If the Black Caps secure a victory against Bangladesh, Pakistan will be officially out of the tournament, with New Zealand and India moving on to the semi-finals.
However, a win for Bangladesh would leave the group wide open.
If Bangladesh beats New Zealand and Pakistan triumphs over Bangladesh on February 27, then Pakistan’s fate would hinge on India’s final group-stage game against New Zealand on March 2.
In this situation, if Rohit Sharma’s team wins, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Pakistan would all end up with two points each. The last semi-final position from Group A would then be determined by net run rate.
Pakistan now faces a tense wait, fully aware that their chances of qualification depend as much on their own results as on those of other teams. With their backs against the wall, Rizwan and his players must perform against Bangladesh and hope for favorable outcomes in other matches.
With four points from two games, Rohit Sharma’s squad currently leads Group A and will face New Zealand in its last group-stage encounter on March 2.
Nonetheless, India’s place in the semi-finals is not yet assured. If New Zealand beats Bangladesh on Monday, both India and New Zealand will automatically qualify for the last four.
Conversely, should Bangladesh win against New Zealand, India will have to wait for confirmation of its semi-final position. A win against the Kiwis in the final group match will guarantee their advancement.
If Bangladesh defeats both New Zealand and Pakistan, while India loses to New Zealand, all three teams—India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh—would finish with four points each. In this case, the qualification for the semi-finals will be decided by Net Run Rate.
Pakistan’s quest for qualification faced a setback with a six-wicket defeat to New Zealand in their opening match on February 19 at the National Stadium in Karachi.
With their campaign already under strain, the team struggled against India. Choosing to bat first, Pakistan managed only 241 runs in 49.4 overs, with Saud Shakeel (62) and captain Rizwan (46) as the standout performers. However, the total fell short as Virat Kohli guided India to victory with his unbeaten 51st ODI century, achieving the target with 45 balls remaining.
With two consecutive losses, Pakistan's fate is no longer in their hands. To maintain their slim hopes for the semi-finals, they must win their final match against Bangladesh on February 27. However, even a win won’t suffice unless other results unfold in their favor.
