Pakistan, Bangladesh match called off due to rain

Persistent rain forced the abandonment of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match between hosts Pakistan and Bangladesh on Thursday at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Heavy showers throughout the day prevented any play, including the toss, and hopes for a competitive contest quickly faded as conditions showed no signs of improving.

With the rain continuing to fall, officials decided to call off the match without a ball being bowled. This washout leaves both teams winless in the tournament, placing them at the bottom of the points table and bringing an early end to their campaigns.

The rain, which had been falling intermittently since the previous night, caused significant delays, with dark clouds lingering over the stadium. Umpires Adrian Holdstock of South Africa and Michael Gough of England were scheduled to inspect the pitch once the rain stopped, but the weather conditions made it impossible to proceed.

Both Pakistan and Bangladesh had already been eliminated from the semi-final race after losing their first two matches in the competition. India and New Zealand have already secured their spots in the semi-finals from Group A.

Bangladesh finished third in the Group A points table with one point, while Pakistan ended at the bottom, also with only one point.

The last group-stage match of Group A will be played on Sunday, March 2, between New Zealand and India at Dubai Cricket Stadium. The winner of that match will finish at the top of the points table.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, with the winners of each semi-final facing each other in the final, which will be held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 9.

Final will move to Dubai if India qualifies for it.