KKN Gurugram Desk | Pakistan faced a disappointing 60-run defeat at the hands of New Zealand in their opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, played on Wednesday, February 19, at the National Stadium in Karachi. Despite half-centuries from Babar Azam (64 off 90 balls) and Khushdil Shah (69 off 49 balls), Pakistan fell short of chasing the 321-run target set by New Zealand. With this loss, Pakistan’s chances of advancing to the semifinals have taken a significant blow, and they now face a must-win situation in their upcoming matches.

Match Summary: New Zealand Set the Stage

New Zealand, batting first after Pakistan’s captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss, posted a formidable total of 320/5 in their 50 overs. The innings was powered by two brilliant centuries from Will Young (107 runs off 121 balls) and *Tom Latham (118 off 110 balls)**, both of whom made significant contributions to their team’s total. Despite Pakistan’s bowlers making some inroads, the Kiwis managed to get away with a mammoth score, setting a challenging target for Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Response: Fifties Not Enough

Chasing 321, Pakistan’s top order showed some resistance, led by Babar Azam, who anchored the innings with a composed half-century. Khushdil Shah also played a quick-fire knock, scoring 69 off just 49 balls, but the rest of the batting line-up failed to build partnerships. Pakistan could only manage to score 260 runs in 47.2 overs, losing the match by 60 runs. Despite solid individual performances, the team fell short of the required target, signaling a lack of depth in their chase.

Impact on Pakistan’s Semifinal Hopes

This defeat has left Pakistan with little margin for error in the Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament, making a comeback after an eight-year hiatus, sees only the top four teams from the group stages progressing to the semifinals. With one loss already in their tally, Pakistan’s next match against India becomes crucial for their semifinal aspirations.

If Pakistan loses to India in their next Group A match on Sunday, February 23, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, they will be in a perilous situation. A second consecutive defeat will significantly reduce their chances of advancing to the knockout stage, leaving them needing to win all remaining matches and hope for favorable results from other teams.

Pakistan’s Path to the Semifinal

Here’s how Pakistan can still make it to the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinals:

1. Win Against India: The most important step for Pakistan is to win against India in their upcoming match. A loss would mean they are likely to finish outside the top two in Group A, making it almost impossible to qualify for the semifinals.

2. Beat Other Group A Teams: Pakistan will also need to secure victories against the other teams in their group. This could involve a challenging matchup against teams like New Zealand, South Africa, or Australia (depending on the group composition). They need to gather as many points as possible.

3. Narrowing the Net Run Rate (NRR) Deficit: In the event of a loss against India, Pakistan’s Net Run Rate (NRR) will play a critical role. They will have to ensure their future victories come with significant margins, to boost their NRR and stay in the race for a semifinal spot, depending on the outcomes of other teams in the group.

4. Look for Favorable Results from Other Teams: Even if Pakistan wins all their remaining matches, they will need other teams in Group A to also lose their matches, particularly the teams they’ve already faced. The competition is expected to be fierce, with New Zealand, India, and possibly South Africa all vying for top spots.

Key Players for Pakistan Going Forward

For Pakistan to turn their campaign around, the batting and bowling departments will need to step up significantly.

• Babar Azam must continue to anchor the innings, providing stability at the top.
• Khushdil Shah’s aggressive approach needs to continue, especially in middle overs, where Pakistan often struggles.
• Mohammad Rizwan, as the captain, will have to inspire the team and ensure better tactical decision-making.
• On the bowling front, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf need to put pressure on the opposition, particularly in the death overs, where Pakistan’s bowling often falters.

The Champions Trophy 2025 has proven to be a tough tournament for Pakistan right from the start. A loss in the opening match against New Zealand has now put them in a position where they must win their next game against India to keep their hopes alive. The next few days will be crucial for Pakistan, and their semifinal dreams hinge on winning their upcoming matches and improving both their batting depth and bowling consistency.