Pakistan Knocked Out Of Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-Final Race, India Qualifies After NZ Beats BAN
Pakistan is out of the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals after New Zealand's win over Bangladesh. New Zealand and India have qualified for the top four.
Hosts Pakistan have been knocked out of the race for the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals after New Zealand registered a comfortable five-wicket win over Bangladesh in the group stage game at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday. The Kiwi side’s win also sealed their, and India’s qualification for the top four, while Bangladesh were also knocked out after their second consecutive loss.
Pakistan lost to India by a margin of six wickets in Dubai on Sunday to follow their 60-run loss to New Zealand in the tournament opener in Karachi. Only the top two teams among India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh could’ve reached the semis. Pakistan’s slender hope was relied upon Bangladesh beating the Black Caps by a big margin and then the Men in Green taking down the Tigers.
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Monday’s result means that India and New Zealand have four points each, which Pakistan and Bangladesh, who only have one match against each other, can not equalize.
Bangladesh managed just 236/9 in the first innings. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scored with 77 (110). The Kiwis, who had picked up form by winning a tri-series between Pakistan and South Africa before this tournament, were too good for Bangladesh as Rachin Ravindra led the charge with a rollicking 112 (105) a
A group stage exit in the first home ICC tournament since 1996 would come as a major embarrassment for the Pakistan team, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and the public. Reports have already started to come out about the PCB’s eagerness to sack the Aaqib Javed-led interim support staff after the tournament and how the team could soon lose some brand value and sponsorships after this performance.
The Bangladesh-Pakistan match on February 27 is now a mere dead-rubber, though the hosts would want to avoid further humiliation and win at least one match in front of the cricket-loving crowd.
India and New Zealand will play their final league stage game on March 2, Sunday. It’ll give both teams a good chance to rotate their 11s and manage the workload of some players. India, for example, saw Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami struggle with minor injuries against Pakistan.
The semi-finals will take place on next Tuesday (March 4) and Wednesday (March 5). The top-two teams of Group B will clash with India and New Zealand to decide the finalists.
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