To maintain their event hopes alive and keep away from an early exit within the group levels, Pakistan should safe a victory of their upcoming conflict towards India in Dubai on February 23.
Pakistan’s marketing campaign within the Champions Trophy 2025 obtained off to a disappointing begin with a loss to New Zealand of their inaugural match on the National Bank Stadium in Karachi. In order to maintain their event hopes alive and keep away from an early exit within the group levels, Pakistan should safe a victory of their upcoming conflict towards India in Dubai on February 23 (Sunday). However, the workforce has been dealt a major blow as one of their key gamers might be sidelined for the rest of the competitors.
Fakhar Zaman, the opening batsman, has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy 2025 as a result of an indirect harm sustained whereas fielding within the match towards New Zealand. Despite battling by the ache to attain 24 runs off 41 balls batting at quantity 4, Zaman was clearly not at his greatest. In his absence, skilled opener Imam Ul Haq has been referred to as up as a alternative. Ul Haq, who final performed an ODI for Pakistan throughout the 2023 ODI World Cup, brings a wealth of expertise with 72 ODIs and a powerful common of 48.27 with 3138 runs.
In the opening match, Pakistan received the toss and elected to bowl first, making an early impression by taking three wickets for 73 runs inside 17 overs. However, New Zealand’s Will Young and Tom Latham turned the tide with a partnership of 118 runs. Young went on to attain a century, ending with 106 runs.
Latham continued his superb type, registering the best rating by a batsman in a Champions Trophy match towards Pakistan with an unbeaten 118. Alongside Glenn Phillips, the duo placed on 125 runs for the fifth wicket. Phillips additionally made a quickfire contribution with 61 runs off 38 balls, serving to New Zealand put up a difficult complete of 320/5 of their first innings.
The hosts struggled to take care of management throughout their chase. Khushdil Shah and Salman Ali Agha had been the standout batters, scoring 69 and 42 runs respectively with confidence and talent. Babar Azam additionally contributed with 64 runs, though he took too many deliveries to take action, scoring his runs in 90 balls. Despite their efforts, the Men in Green might solely muster a complete of 260 runs, finally falling brief by 60 runs in the long run.
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