Pakistan was defeated by New Zealand by 60 runs in an embarrassing defeat in match one of the Champions Trophy 2025. In their first match of the tournament played at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday, February 19, Pakistan’s captain Mohamed Rizwan won the toss and invited New Zealand to bat. Will Young (107) and Tom Latham (118*) gave the Kiwis a 320-run victory for the loss of 5 wickets in 50 overs. The target of 321 had proved far too much for defending champions who, despite good knocks from Babar Azam (64 off 90 balls) and Khushdil Shah (69 off 49 balls), managed to score a total of just 260 runs in 47.2 overs.
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The loss suffered on Wednesday in the first match of the ICC tournament’s return after eight years lessened Pakistan’s chances of qualifying for the semifinals. The burden of expectation will finally culminate with the Group A clash against India on Sunday (February 23) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, which becomes a must-win fixture now. If Pakistan loses against India, their hope of making the semifinal stages would diminish to naught.
Pakistan must beat India on Sunday and repeat the same performance against Bangladesh in the last Group A match on February 27 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium to qualify for the semifinals. In addition, Pakistan will have to keep an eye on net run rates, especially since a three-team logjam of two wins apiece could arise.
If Pakistan loses to India and New Zealand defeats Bangladesh on February 24, Pakistan’s campaign will come to an end, provided that India also beats Bangladesh in their first match of the tournament on February 20 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan, which won the 2017 edition of the Champions Trophy by defeating India by 180 runs in the final held at The Oval on June 18, 2017, were eyeing to become the second team ever to defend the Champions Trophy title, but with the loss in the first match, their prospects of a group-stage exit are pointing increasingly in the direction of certainty.
