Dubai – Pakistan’s hopes of making it to the semi-finals suffered a major setback after losing the opening match of the Champions Trophy on their home ground. The team now faces a crucial clash against arch-rivals India on February 23 in Dubai, where a victory is essential for their survival in the tournament.
As the Champions Trophy kicks off, Pakistan’s journey has become challenging, and the game of “ifs and buts” has begun. Despite losing their first match, the team still has a chance to qualify for the semi-finals. To do so, Pakistan must win its next two matches against India and Bangladesh, while also hoping that New Zealand defeats India.
Apart from securing two victories, Pakistan must also keep an eye on their net run rate. If three teams end up with two wins each in the group stage, qualification could come down to net run rate. Now, Pakistan will need an extraordinary performance to bounce back in the tournament.
