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‘It Is Over’: Mohammad Rizwan Admits Pakistan Are Out Of 2025 Champions Trophy

Bhargav Dixit

Mohammad Rizwan addresses the media in Dubai. [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X]Mohammad Rizwan addresses the media in Dubai. [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X]

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The ongoing Champions Trophy is the fifth time Mohammad Rizwan is leading Pakistan in an ODI competition (both bilateral and multi-team). In what is Rizwan’s first Champions Trophy as a player and first ICC event as a captain, it has taken him only a couple of matches to concede defeat.

Well, such is the nature of the beast in the ICC Champions Trophy that a couple of losses are enough for a team to consider itself eliminated. As defending champions and hosts, Pakistan losing their first two matches to New Zealand and India have put them in a position from where only a miracle can rescue them.

Mohammad Rizwan’s Brutal Assessment

Rizwan, however, seemed to be in no mood of coming across as a believer of miracles. Speaking straight from the shoulder post a 6-wicket loss at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium last night, the 32-year-old player was practical enough to consider their third match against Bangladesh as a dead-rubber for them.

“We can say for now that it is over. That is the truth. We'll see what Bangladesh does with New Zealand, then New Zealand with India and then what we do. It's a long road and it depends on other teams,” Rizwan told the reporters on Sunday.

Rizwan’s brutal assessment further witnessed him saying that they would’ve qualified on their own had they been good enough to do so.

Is Pakistan Out Of Champions Trophy?

All but out. For Pakistan to qualify for the semi-finals, Bangladesh will have to defeat New Zealand for the second consecutive time in the Champions Trophy. Assuming they are able to do the same at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium tonight, Pakistan will themselves have to beat Bangladesh on Thursday.

Additionally, Pakistan would want India to defeat New Zealand on Sunday. Even then, the team with the better NRR (Net Run Rate) out of Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh would qualify alongside India from Group A.

Considering if New Zealand beat Bangladesh or either of the above-mentioned three scenarios doesn’t happen, Pakistan will be eliminated from 2025 Champions Trophy.