CT 2025: Embarrassing defeat from New Zealand, will Pakistan still be able to qualify for the semi-finals?

How Can Pakistan Qualify for Champions Trophy Semi Final: New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 60 runs in the first match of the Champions Trophy 2025 played at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday (19 February). After the defeat in this match, the road to the semi-finals now looks very difficult for Pakistan. Let us tell you the equation under which Pakistan can still reach the semi-finals.

After this defeat, Mohammad Rizwan's team went to the bottom of the table in Group A with a net run rate of -1.200. If Pakistan is to qualify for the semi-finals, it will have to win both its remaining matches in the group stage. If they lose even one of their next two matches, Pakistan will need to bring a lot of equations in their favor to make it to the last four.

Even if Pakistan wins its other matches, qualifying for the semi-finals is not guaranteed as net run rate can come into the picture. Apart from this, Pakistan also needs to improve its net run rate, which had come down after losing to the Black Caps. Pakistan are the defending champions since winning the title in the tournament held in England and Wales in 2017. In such a situation, if they get eliminated from the group stage this time, it will be a big blow for the Pakistani team and fans.

How can Pakistan qualify?

If Pakistan loses both the remaining matches - the team will be out

If one of the two matches is won - will have to depend on other teams and net run rate to proceed.

If win both their remaining matches - the chances of qualifying will increase, net run rate can also be important.

Let us tell you that Pakistan's next match will be against arch-rivals India on Sunday, February 23 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. They will face Bangladesh in their final league match in Rawalpindi on February 27. Now the eyes of the Pakistani team and fans are fixed on the match against India because only the win or loss in this match can decide Pakistan's future in the Champions Trophy.