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Pakistan’s chances of qualifying for the semifinals of the Champions Trophy 2025 depend on the result of the remaining three matches in Group A, and Mohammad Rizwan’s men will get knocked out of the tournament on Monday itself if New Zealand beat Bangladesh in Rawalpindi.
If New Zealand beat Bangladesh on Monday, Pakistan will get knocked out of the Champions Trophy 2025. (Picture Credit: AP)
Mitchell Santner’s New Zealand will face Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy 2025 Group A match on Monday, February 24. Match No. 6 of the ongoing eight-team ICC tournament is scheduled to take place at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The Kiwis are coming into the match after getting the better of Pakistan by 60 runs in the tournament opener played at National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday, February 19, whereas the Bangladeshi team went down by 6 wickets against India in the match played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, February 20.
The match against the Black Caps in Rawalpindi is a must-win for the Bangladeshi team because if Najmul Hossain Shanto’s men lose against New Zealand, then they will get knocked out of the Champions Trophy 2025. And not only Bangladesh but also Pakistan’s Champions Trophy title defence will officially come to an end on Monday.
READ MORE: How Pakistan can qualify for Champions Trophy 2025 after losing match against India
How? New Zealand have 2 points from one match played so far in the Champions Trophy 2025, whereas Bangladesh have 0 from one match and Pakistan have 0 points after two matches. If New Zealand win on Monday, then they will reach 4 points from 2 matches, and Bangladesh, like Pakistan, will remain at 0 points from 2 matches.
Rohit Sharma-led Team India has already secured 4 points from two Champions Trophy 2025 matches played so far. Since each team will play three matches in the group stage, Pakistan and Bangladesh can’t match India and New Zealand’s tally of four points even if they win their last match, and so that’s why their campaign will come to an end.
Pakistan will progress to the semifinals only if Bangladesh beat New Zealand on Monday; they beat Bangladesh by a very big margin on Thursday, and India also beat New Zealand by a very big margin on Sunday (March 2). If this happen then Pakistan will pip New Zealand and Bangladesh despite having same number of points (2) from three matches due to better net run rate.
If New Zealand win the match by any margin or it ends in a draw (due to rain in Rawalpindi), then also Pakistan’s title defence will come to an end.
For Bangladesh to qualify for the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal, they must beat New Zealand on Monday and Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Thursday (February 27) and at the same time hope India beat New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday (March 2). In such a scenario, Bangladesh will secure direct qualification to the semifinal.
If Bangladesh win both their remaining matches and New Zealand beat India on Sunday, then the qualification will depend on the net run rates of India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, and the two teams with better net run rates will qualify for the semifinals.
If Bangladesh beat New Zealand on Monday but loses against Pakistan on Thursday, then they will pray for India’s win over New Zealand on Sunday because in case of India’s win in Dubai, three teams—Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Pakistan—will finish with two points each from three matches, and the team with the better net run rate will make it to the semifinals along with India.
For New Zealand, the qualification scenario is quite simple as of now. A win over Bangladesh by any margin on Monday will confirm their place in the semifinals of the Champions Trophy 2025.
If they lose against Bangladesh, then they must hope that Pakistan beat Bangladesh on Thursday in Rawalpindi and they beat India in Dubai on Sunday. In such a scenario as well, Kiwis will qualify directly.
But if they lose against Bangladesh as well as India and Pakistan beat Bangladesh on Thursday, then the team with the better net run rate between New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Pakistan will qualify for the semifinals along with India.
New Zealand will get knocked out of the Champions Trophy if they lose both their remaining Group A matches and Bangladesh after defeating them on Monday, secure a win, or play a draw against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Thursday.
- Location :
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
