Pakistan were handed a bitter reality check in their Champions Trophy 2025's campaign opener against New Zealand. Mohammad Rizwan-led Pakistan suffered a 60-run defeat against Champions Trophy 2025 campaign began disastrously with a 60-run defeat against New Zealand at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.
Pakistan's defeat against New Zealand makes India's semis path easier
Hopes were high for the Men in Green, as they were hosting an ICC event for the first time in 29 years. This loss, however, has significantly hampered Pakistan's chances of qualifying for the semi-finals and, ironically, potentially eased India's path to the same stage.
Pakistan is placed in Group A alongside New Zealand, India, and Bangladesh. The tournament format dictates that each team within the group plays each other once, with the top two teams advancing to the semi-finals. This leaves little room for error, as a single defeat can cost big.
Pakistan's loss has inadvertently benefited India's semi-final prospects. Wins against Bangladesh on February 20 and Pakistan on February 23 almost seal India's semifinal qualification chances. Even if India were to lose to New Zealand, a win against both Bangladesh and Pakistan would likely still secure their place in the semi-finals. This is how Pakistan's opening game defeat has likely worked in India's favor.
Here's how Pakistan can still qualify for Champions Trophy's semifinal despite losing opener
Despite the loss to New Zealand in Champions Trophy's opener, Pakistan still retains a chance of qualifying for the semifinals. They have two remaining group stage matches, a high-stakes encounter against India followed by a game against Bangladesh on February 27.
To improve their chances of reaching the semi-finals, Pakistan must win both of these remaining matches. They will also need either India or Bangladesh to lose at least two of their three group stage games. This scenario would leave Pakistan with four points, while New Zealand would finish with either four or six points, depending on their other results. India and Bangladesh would then finish below both New Zealand and Pakistan in the group standings, allowing Mohammad Rizwan's team to advance to the semifinals. However, a loss to India in their next match would effectively eliminate Pakistan from the competition.
How did the match unfold?
Talking about the match, Pakistan chose to bowl first after winning the toss in the opening Champions Trophy match and made a promising start, taking three wickets for 73 runs within the first 17 overs. However, Will Young and Tom Latham then turned the tide for New Zealand with a crucial 118-run partnership. Young went on to score a century, eventually being dismissed for 106. Latham was then joined by Glenn Phillips, and together they added another 125 runs for the fifth wicket. Latham's unbeaten 118 became the highest individual score against Pakistan in a Champions Trophy match. Phillips also contributed a valuable 61 runs off just 38 balls. New Zealand finished their innings with a total of 320/5.Pakistan's chase never gained momentum. Only Khushdil Shah and Salman Ali Agha showed any real control, scoring 69 and 42 runs, respectively. Babar Azam also scored 64, but his innings was slow and inefficient, consuming 90 deliveries. Ultimately, Pakistan were bowled out for 260, losing the match by 60 runs.