Pakistan's hopes of advancing in the Champions Trophy 2025 are hanging by a thread after their crushing 60-run defeat to New Zealand in the tournament opener. A loss against India on February 23 could all but end their campaign, depending on other results in Group A.
Group A Standings
New Zealand currently lead Group A with two points and a net run rate (NRR) of +1.200. India also has two points but sits second due to a lower NRR of +0.408. Bangladesh and Pakistan are yet to earn points, but Bangladesh holds third place with an NRR of -0.408, ahead of Pakistan’s -1.200.
New Zealand strengthened their position at the top with a 60-run win over Pakistan in Karachi. Meanwhile, India defeated Bangladesh by six wickets to stay in contention for a semifinal spot.
Pakistan’s Path to the Semifinals
Pakistan needs a win against India on February 23 to keep their hopes alive. If they lose, their chances will be virtually over, especially if New Zealand defeats Bangladesh on February 24.
A victory over India would make the group wide open, as Pakistan could then aim for a strong finish against Bangladesh on February 27. India, in that case, would face a tough final match against New Zealand to secure a semifinal spot.
Other Key Scenarios
Pakistan’s hopes could also depend on Bangladesh’s performance. If Bangladesh upsets New Zealand on February 24, Pakistan could still have an outside chance of qualifying even if they lose to India. However, a loss to both India and Bangladesh would eliminate them from the tournament.
A loss for Pakistan would make qualification nearly impossible. India, while in a strong position, would not want to risk their chances by losing this match.
Key Battles to Watch
India’s Shubman Gill, who scored a century in the opening game, will be a major threat. Pakistan will rely on pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi to dismiss him early. Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan will look to bounce back after a poor outing against New Zealand, but India’s lead spinner Kuldeep Yadav could make things difficult for him. Babar Azam will also be a key player for Pakistan, while India’s Mohammed Shami, who took five wickets against Bangladesh, will aim to stop him.
Match Details
Date and Time: February 23, 2:30 PM IST
Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium
Squads
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Hasnain, Usman Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Faheem Ashraf
