Champions Trophy: India reach Semi, Pakistan Exit

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

India reach the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy, Pakistan exit the tournament!
New Zealand defeated Bangladesh, securing India’s spot in the semi-finals.
Pakistan faced an embarrassing exit in their first home ICC tournament in 29 years.
India defeated Pakistan by 6 wickets, thanks to Kohli’s magnificent hundred.
Pakistan cricket board may sack coach Aaqib Javed after the disappointing performance.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

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India have made it to the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and Pakistan were shown the exit door from the competition after New Zealand defeated Bangladesh by 5 wickets in Rawalpindi on Monday, February 24. This outcome marks a significant turning point in the tournament for both teams. India’s progression to the semi-finals showcases their strength, while Pakistan’s early exit is a major setback.

India defeated Pakistan by 6 wickets thanks to a disciplined bowling performance and Virat Kohli’s magnificent hundred in Dubai on Sunday, February 23. Kohli’s century was instrumental in securing India’s victory and boosting their chances of advancing in the tournament.

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For Pakistan, it’s a huge embarrassment as the defending champions were not able to progress past the group stages in their first ICC tournament at home in 29 years. This disappointing performance has led to widespread criticism and calls for change within the team. Reports claim Pakistan are set to sack Aaqib Javed, their coach, after just 3 months into the role, highlighting the pressure on the team management to deliver results. The loss to India saw the team get slammed by the legends, further intensifying the scrutiny.

“(It is) useless blaming the system, selectors and all that. The question is, are these selected players short on anything? Does not the PCB take care of them? Are they not paid enough? So where is the passion and fire and professionalism to perform in big matches and tournaments?” Javed Miandad was quoted by the PTI. This statement reflects the disappointment and frustration of former players and fans.

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“Truth is, our players were under pressure even before the match began. Look at their body language, not one of them appeared to be in a mood to dominate Indian bowlers,” he added, pinpointing the lack of confidence and aggression within the team.

New Zealand needed a win to make it to the semi-finals themselves and were able to overcome a stern test from Bangladesh in the end with ease thanks to Rachin Ravindra’s 4th ODI hundred. Bangladesh had started off brilliantly on the day and before Michael Bracewell was able to change the course of the game. This demonstrates the competitive nature of the tournament. Bracewell bowled 10 overs on the trot and picked up 4 wickets for 26 runs in his spell. Najimul Shanto top-scored for Bangladesh with 77 runs, while Jaker Ali’s 45 got them to 236 runs for 9 wickets in 50 overs.

The Blackcaps had a horrible start to their run-chase as they lost Will Young and Kane Williamson early. Rachin and Devon Conway would steady the ship with a 57-run stand, showcasing their resilience. Tom Latham continued his fine run in the tournament with a well-made 55, which helped Rachin to continue and torment the Bangladeshi bowlers, further solidifying New Zealand’s position.

The win also eliminated Bangladesh from the competition as they lost their 2 matches so far, marking the end of their Champions Trophy campaign.

Pakistan’s horror show in Champions Trophy

Pakistan came into the tournament as the defending champions, with high hopes of retaining the crown on home soil. However, things would take a turn for the worse in the first game as New Zealand’s Latham and Young hit hundreds as they scored 320.

Pakistan would lose Fakhar Zaman to an injury, and despite the opener coming on, the hosts’ lack of intent came back to haunt them in the match. This highlights the challenges faced by the team throughout the tournament. The India game was a do-or-die contest for them and once again slow batting was their undoing as they were bundled out for just 241 runs.

The pace attack of Pakistan was toothless in their effort to stop India from reaching the target as Kohli’s hundred got India home in the 44th over. This all but sealed Pakistan’s exit from the competition and New Zealand’s win sealed it, marking a disappointing end to their campaign.

With this, Pakistan became only the 4th team to exit the Champions Trophy in the group stages coming in as the defending champions. India and Sri Lanka, who were joint-winners in 2002, exited the 2004 edition in the group stages. Australia exited the 2013 edition in the group stages after losing 2 games. This statistic emphasizes the difficulty of defending the Champions Trophy title.

Pakistan will face Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27, but the weather forecast doesn’t paint a good picture for them. If the match is washed out, it means that Pakistan could end the tournament without a win, further compounding their disappointment.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember