Last Updated:
Pakistan will face India in the Champions Trophy 2025 Group A match on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and can’t afford to lose it at any cost.
Why Pakistan can’t afford to lose Champions Trophy 2025 match against India in Dubai on Sunday, February 23. (Picture Credit: X/@TheRealPCB)
Defending champions Pakistan will face India in match No. 5 of the Champions Trophy 2025 on Sunday, February 23. The high-voltage Group A match between the two arch-rivals is set to take place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The match against India is a must-win for the Men in Green because a defeat in Dubai will put the hosts on the brink of an elimination from the tournament.
If Pakistan lose against India on Sunday and New Zealand beat Bangladesh on Monday, then Pakistan’s title defence will come to an end. For Pakistan to keep themselves alive in the Champions Trophy 2025, they must beat India on Sunday and then get the better of Bangladesh in the last Group A match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on February 27.
Check IND vs PAK Live Score And Updates
If Pakistan lose against India and the match between New Zealand and Bangladesh in Rawalpindi gets washed out on Monday, then also Pakistan will get knocked out of the tournament. But if India beat Pakistan and Bangladesh beat New Zealand, then the Mohammad Rizwan-led side will remain alive in the contest, and their hopes of qualification will depend on the result of Thursday’s match against Bangladesh and Sunday’s match between India and New Zealand.
In such a scenario, Pakistan will only progress if they beat Bangladesh by a very big margin and India also beat New Zealand by a very big margin in Dubai. India will confirm its place in the semifinal as table toppers, and Pakistan can finish second despite having the same number of points as Bangladesh and New Zealand due to a superior net run rate.
So far, only one team—Australia—has successfully managed to defend its Champions Trophy title. The Aussies won the Champions Trophy title by getting the better of the West Indies in 2006, and in 2009 they hammered New Zealand in the final to become back-to-back champions.
Only once in the past have the tournament hosts managed to lift the Champions Trophy. In 2002, the tournament was played in Sri Lanka, and Sri Lanka finished as joint-winners with India after the final was twice washed out due to rain in Colombo.
- Location :
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
