At the Dubai Cricket Stadium, thousands of Pakistani fans gathered to support their team, but they were left deeply disappointed
24 February, 2025
PHOTO: AFP
Pakistan’s hopes of celebrating the first ICC event on home soil after a year lasted less than a month, as the team’s poor performance led to an early exit. The defending champions were eliminated from the Champions Trophy race following a six-wicket defeat to India. With no chance of reaching the semi-finals, Pakistan’s last match against Bangladesh is now a mere formality.
At the Dubai Cricket Stadium, thousands of Pakistani fans gathered to support their team, but they were left deeply disappointed. Winning the toss, Pakistan chose to bat first but could only post a total of 241 runs. Saud Shakeel top-scored with 62 runs, but slow batting and over 100 dot balls hurt their innings. In response, India comfortably chased down the target in 42.3 overs, with Virat Kohli scoring an unbeaten century. Pakistan’s bowlers failed to make an impact.
Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan opted to bat first, hoping to set a strong target. However, the team once again failed to capitalize on the powerplay. With Fakhar Zaman injured, Babar Azam opened the innings alongside Imam-ul-Haq. Imam, returning to the team, struggled under pressure, while Babar played some stylish strokes. Just as he seemed set for a big innings, Babar was dismissed for 23, edging Hardik Pandya’s delivery to wicketkeeper KL Rahul.
Pakistan’s troubles deepened when Imam-ul-Haq, attempting an unnecessary single, was run out for just 10 runs. By the end of the 10th over, both openers were back in the pavilion with only 47 runs on the board. Saud Shakeel and Rizwan tried to rebuild the innings, but the scoring rate remained slow. Saud completed his half-century, but in an attempt to accelerate, Rizwan fell to Axar Patel after scoring 46 runs off 77 balls. He was given a lifeline at 44 when Harshit Rana dropped a catch at long-on, but he failed to capitalize.
With Rizwan’s dismissal, the 104-run partnership ended. Saud Shakeel survived an early scare when Kuldeep Yadav dropped his catch, but he was soon dismissed for 62, caught by Patel off Pandya’s bowling. Tayyab Tahir failed once again, scoring just four runs before being bowled by Ravindra Jadeja. Three wickets fell for just 14 runs, putting Pakistan in a difficult position.
Khushdil Shah and Salman Ali Agha steadied the innings and ensured Pakistan crossed 200. However, Salman fell for 19, caught by Jadeja off Kuldeep’s bowling. Shaheen Afridi was trapped LBW on his first ball, wasting a review in the process. Naseem Shah contributed 14 runs before giving his wicket to Kohli off Kuldeep. Haris Rauf hit a six but was run out for eight, while Khushdil Shah scored 38 before Kohli caught him off Harshit Rana. Abrar Ahmed remained not out on zero as Pakistan were bowled out for 241 in 49.4 overs.
For India, Kuldeep Yadav was the standout bowler, taking three wickets for 40 runs. Hardik Pandya claimed two wickets for 31 runs.
India suffered an early setback at 31 runs when Shaheen Afridi bowled Rohit Sharma with a brilliant in-swinging yorker. Rohit managed 20 runs before departing. Shubman Gill batted fluently alongside Kohli. Pakistan missed a crucial opportunity when Haris Rauf induced a mis-hit from Gill, but Khushdil Shah dropped a straightforward catch at mid-wicket when India were at 67.
Despite the missed chance, Gill and Kohli guided India to the 100-run mark in 17.1 overs. Abrar Ahmed finally provided a breakthrough, clean bowling Gill for 46, just four runs short of a fifty. As he walked back, the bowler gestured him off the field.
Kohli and Shreyas Iyer then took control of the chase. Kohli, continuing his fine form against Pakistan, reached his half-century off 62 balls with a boundary off Naseem Shah. Shreyas also attacked, hitting consecutive fours off Khushdil Shah. Saud Shakeel dropped Shreyas at mid-wicket when he was on 25, allowing the partnership to flourish.
With India needing just 28 more runs, Shreyas was finally dismissed for 56, caught by Imam-ul-Haq off Khushdil. His partnership with Kohli added 114 runs. In the next over, Shaheen Afridi struck again, removing Pandya for eight, caught behind by Rizwan.
As India approached victory, Kohli needed just four more runs to complete his century. He finished the match in style, smashing a boundary to reach his hundred and seal India’s win. Axar Patel remained not out on three as India chased down the target with six wickets in hand.
Shaheen Afridi took two wickets but conceded 74 runs, while Pakistan’s bowling overall failed to create pressure.
With this loss, Pakistan is officially out of the Champions Trophy semi-final race, while India continues its dominant run in the tournament.
