Pakistan’s journey in the Champions Trophy began in the worst possible way as they suffered a heavy 60-run defeat to New Zealand in Karachi. The defending champions struggled in all the departments, with a sluggish batting approach, inconsistent bowling choices and lackluster fielding contributing to a disappointing performance in front of the home crowd.
Chasing a daunting 321, Pakistan never looked settled at the crease. Babar Azam anchored the innings with a cautious 64 off 90 balls but the lack of intent from the top order made the chase increasingly difficult. Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel failed to make an impact, and Fakhar Zaman, returning from an injury concern, managed only 24 off 41 balls as Pakistan’s innings stagnated in the middle overs.
A late fightback from the lower order briefly revived hopes. Khushdil Shah played an enterprising knock of 69 off 49 balls and Salman Agha added a brisk 42 off 28. However, by the time they injected momentum, the required run rate had escalated beyond reach and Pakistan was eventually bowled out for 260 in 47.2 overs.
The home crowd’s disappointment was evident, with fans voicing their frustrations to local media. Many doubted Pakistan’s chances against India in their next game, with some expressing lack of confidence in the team’s ability to compete at the highest level. Some even criticised Babar Azam, questioning his slow approach and accusing him of playing for personal milestones rather than the team’s cause. There were few who also accused PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi of selecting the players based on references.
The disappointment extended beyond batting, as Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to contain New Zealand’s well-structured batting lineup. Despite early breakthroughs from Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, the visitors rebuilt through a dominant stand between Will Young and Tom Latham. Will Young’s composed 107 off 113 balls and Tom Latham’s unbeaten 118 off 104 provided a strong foundation, before Glenn Phillips added a quickfire 61 off 39 to push the total past 300.
Pakistan’s bowling lacked consistency, with Haris Rauf conceding 83 runs for his two wickets and the duo of Abrar Ahmed and Shaheen Afridi failing to control the death overs. As the match progressed, the energy in the stadium faded, with fans getting increasingly disheartened by the team’s performance.
Pakistan now faces an uphill battle as they prepare to take on arch-rivals India in Dubai on February 23, knowing that another lackluster display could further derail their title defense.
