The semi-final hopes of Pakistan in the Champions Trophy 2025 were dealt a major blow with a 60-run loss to New Zealand in their opening match.
The defeat has left The Men in Green in a tough spot, with fans now questioning their qualification prospects.
Pakistan will need to secure a must-win victory against India in Dubai on February 23 to stay in the competition.
The strong performance of New Zealand, led by centuries from Tom Latham and Will Young, saw them set a total of 320-5 in 50 overs.
The response of the injury hit Green Shirts was lackluster, as they were dismissed for 260 in 47.2 overs.
The New Zealand bowlers, including Will O’Rourke (3-47), Mitchell Santner (3-66), and Matt Henry (2-25), shared eight wickets between them to seal the win.
With only three group-stage matches in the tournament, Pakistan now faces a must-win scenario in both their remaining matches against India and Bangladesh.
They will also need to closely monitor their net run rate, as a three-way tie could make qualification dependent on superior run rate.
The upcoming match against India is effectively a knockout for Pakistan, leaving them with no room for error.
| Team | Matches Played | Wins | Losses | Points | Net Run Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -0.742 |
| New Zealand | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +0.742 |