Dubai: Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the Champions Trophy semifinals took a major blow after a six-wicket defeat to India on Sunday. Virat Kohli’s brilliant century led India to a comfortable win, leaving Pakistan with an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stage.
This defeat marked Pakistan’s second consecutive loss in the tournament, following a setback against New Zealand in their opening match. Despite the challenging situation, Pakistan’s path to the semi-finals is still mathematically possible, though it depends on several other outcomes.
The Crucial Win Over Bangladesh
For Pakistan to stay in contention, they must win their final Group A match against Bangladesh. However, even if they emerge victorious, they will need New Zealand to lose both of their remaining matches — against Bangladesh and India — to have any chance of advancing. Should this scenario unfold, Pakistan could end up with two points from three matches, tying with New Zealand and Bangladesh.
If the net run rate is in their favor, Pakistan could sneak into the semi-finals. However, this is contingent on New Zealand’s results, which means every match in Group A will have a significant impact on Pakistan’s fate.
What If New Zealand Wins?
If New Zealand defeats Bangladesh on February 24, they will secure a semi-final spot alongside India, making Pakistan’s hopes of advancing almost impossible. In this case, the last match of Group A would only decide the top two positions, and regardless of the outcome of their own game, Pakistan’s tournament would be over.
Rizwan’s Reflective Statement
After the crushing defeat to India, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan expressed his disappointment but acknowledged the reality of the situation. “For now, we can say that it’s over. This is the truth,” Rizwan said after the match. “In the next match, we’ll see what Bangladesh does with New Zealand, what New Zealand does with India, and what we do. It’s a long journey. Yes, we have hope and belief in Allah. Our dependence on the Champions Trophy now rests on other teams. And as a captain, I honestly don’t like this.”
Rizwan’s words reflect the uncertainty and pressure his team now faces as they wait for other results to determine their fate.
Looking Ahead
While Pakistan’s hopes have been severely dented, the team still has one final opportunity to keep their semi-final dreams alive. With everything hanging on their next match, they will also need other teams to deliver results in their favor. For now, the focus remains on their crucial encounter with Bangladesh, which could either revive or end their Champions Trophy campaign.
