The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) worked hard to host an ICC tournament in Pakistan. They haven’t hosted an ICC event since 1996. The PCB finally got the rights to host the 2025 Champions Trophy in 2021. As the reigning champions, getting the hosting rights for the tournament was even more special. Well, all the excitement has dissipated. Because the Pakistan cricket team, who were touted as one of the favourites to lift the title, have been knocked out of the tournament just six days into it.
Pakistan knocked out of Champions Trophy
On February 19, Pakistan and New Zealand played the opening match. And just after the sixth match (Bangladesh vs. New Zealand), they are out of the ICC Champions Trophy. Mohammed Rizwan’s team has only themselves to blame. The team wasn’t as good as the others in Group A.
First, the Kiwis beat them by 60 runs, and then yesterday (February 23), India downed them in Dubai. They needed ‘qudrat ka nizam’ to help them once again. The only way Pakistan could qualify for the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal was if Bangladesh beat New Zealand, then they beat Bangladesh, and India then defeated the Black Caps.
India & New Zealand qualify for Champions Trophy semifinals
Pakistan needed three matches to go in their favour, but since New Zealand beat Bangladesh, they have been knocked out of the first ICC event being played in Pakistan since the 1996 ODI World Cup. The two teams that will play in the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy are India and New Zealand. Both teams are undefeated in the tournament, so far.
ICC Champions Trophy: Points Table, Group A
| Matches | Won | Lost | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| New Zealand (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Bangladesh (E) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Pakistan (E) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
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